NBA superstar Damian Lillard has been with the Portland Trail Blazers for his entire career, but ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith believes that he is ready to move on from the struggling franchise. Smith has been critical of Lillard’s loyalty to the Blazers, despite years of failure on the part of the front office to build a competitive team around him.
During an episode of ‘First Take’, Smith expressed his affection and admiration for Lillard, calling him one of the great guards the game has ever seen. However, he also stated that he has a problem with the player’s loyalty, arguing that he should have left the organization years ago. “He’s given this organization everything he’s had. It hasn’t worked. He should have BEEN left that organization,” Smith said.
Smith emphasized that Lillard’s commitment to the Blazers has not gone unnoticed, but that it may be time for him to move on to a better situation. “He’s gotta be committed to going to a better situation. I think he is getting to that point. Now more so than ever. I can see it in his face,” Smith said.
According to Smith, Lillard should follow in the footsteps of other NBA superstars like LeBron James and Kevin Durant and focus on getting traded to a more competitive team. “Damian Lillard is one of the great, great guards this game has ever seen and I believe he is a future Hall of Famer. But I don’t know how many times he’s had to have been told. The Portland Trail Blazers are not the place to be,” Smith said.
Smith also criticized the Blazers’ performance this season, highlighting their tendency to lose leads in games. “There were about 17-18 games this year when they [Trail Blazers] had a 10-point or more lead and then lost the lead. I mean, you just don’t see that very often,” Smith said.
.@stephenasmith says Damian Lillard should've left Portland years ago 😳
"Damian Lillard is one of the great, great guards this game has ever seen. … He's given this organization everything he's had. It hasn't worked. … He should've BEEN left that organization." pic.twitter.com/xWkG6i2rd4
— First Take (@FirstTake) March 21, 2023
In summary, Stephen A. Smith has criticized Damian Lillard’s loyalty to the Portland Trail Blazers and suggested that it may be time for him to move on to a more competitive team. While he acknowledged Lillard’s talent and contributions to the Blazers, Smith believes that their failure to build a winning team around him has been a wasted opportunity. Only time will tell whether Lillard will decide to stay with the Blazers or seek a trade to another team.
The Legacy of Damian Lillard: Does His Multifaceted Approach to Basketball Make Him a True Renaissance Player?
Damian Lillard is one of the most talented and accomplished basketball players of his generation. Since entering the NBA in 2012, Lillard has amassed numerous accolades and awards that speak to his skill, determination, and leadership on the court.
Lillard is a six-time NBA All-Star, having been selected to the All-Star team in 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021. He has also been named to the All-NBA Team five times, including First Team honors in 2018 and 2019. In addition, Lillard was the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2013 and has won the NBA’s Western Conference Player of the Week award 18 times throughout his career.
Off the court, Lillard has been recognized for his philanthropic efforts and his leadership in the community. In 2020, he was named the NBA’s Community Assist Award winner in recognition of his work supporting local communities and promoting social justice.
Overall, Damian Lillard’s accolades are a testament to his talent, dedication, and impact as a player and as a role model for fans around the world.
