The Portland Trail Blazers are entering the next era of the franchise as they parted ways with superstar point guard Damian Lillard in the offseason.
The Blazers did everything they could to surround Lillard with the requisite talent to get them to the NBA Finals, but unfortunately, they fell short of that goal.
Portland tried to acquire talent throughout the years, but all their efforts resulted in just one Western Conference Finals appearance.
After the 2022-23 NBA season that resulted in the Blazers missing the postseason, Lillard finally requested a trade that fans and media had been clamoring for for years.
Lillard wanted to go to the Miami Heat, but Portland struck a deal with the Milwaukee Bucks instead.
Ahead of his first game against his former team, Lillard opened up about his time in Portland via The Players’ Tribune.
“When it came to going all in to win, I just felt like it ran its course,” Lillard said.
“When it came to going all in to win, I just felt like it ran its course.”@Dame_Lillard tells @QRich and @21Blackking how things ended in Portland and more on #Knuckleheads.
📹: https://t.co/AEMuodoZyf pic.twitter.com/rc3hCWKhCF
— The Players' Tribune (@PlayersTribune) November 26, 2023
Things will always just naturally run their course, and for Lillard and the Trail Blazers their time together had hit a wall.
The Western Conference only got tougher during Lillard’s time in Portland, so the move East ultimately might be the best move for his career.
Teaming up with Giannis Antetokoumpo gives Lillard the best opportunity to win his first championship and the duo is finally starting to hit their stride on the floor together.
However, Lillard and Blazers fans will always have love for each other and the latter will likely be cheering for the former to get that elusive first ring.
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