Damian Lillard mentioned his reasoning for re-signing with the Portland Path Blazers on Monday, principally specializing in his household.
“Simply figuring out that I’ll be again house for all components of my life, with my children, enjoying for the Path Blazers, driving on the identical streets that I’ve pushed on just about my total maturity, my entire household being right here, my mother, my brother, my sisters, all my mates across the metropolis of Portland,” Lillard mentioned. “All of these issues depend. I wasn’t anticipating it to occur so quickly.”
Lillard signed a three-year cope with the Blazers final week that features a no-trade clause and a participant possibility for the third yr.
The 35-year-old didn’t rule out the possibility of returning to the court docket subsequent season as he rehabs his torn Achilles, although he added that he wouldn’t rush.
“My prideful self could be pondering otherwise, however I believe with age, you get wiser,” Lillard mentioned. “Like Joe [Cronin] mentioned, it’ll be in the end what’s finest, I believe, to take as a lot time as attainable to be sure that I am proper, that is what I am going to do.”
Lillard at the moment holds franchise data for many factors and 3-pointers. The Blazers received 4 playoff sequence and went to the Western Convention Finals as soon as throughout Lillard’s earlier 11 seasons with the crew.
Chauncey Billups added that he was going to make Lillard an energetic participant within the crew subsequent season regardless of his damage.
“I informed him that this yr he will be the highest-paid assistant coach in league historical past as a result of I will be placing him to work daily,” Billups mentioned.
