NBA

Damian Lillard opens up about his future in Portland: “I’m not getting any younger.”

Jun 1, 2021; Denver, Colorado, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) during the third quarter against the Denver Nuggets during game five in the first round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs. at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Damian Lillard opens up about his future with the Portland Trailblazers. Lillard’s name is always in trade rumors every year, but he always says he’s not leaving Portland. However, now it’s looking like Lillard might look to take his talents elsewhere next season.

Lillard has only missed the playoffs once since he entered the league back in 2012. However, the team has never been good enough to compete for a championship. Lillard knows he’s not getting any younger and that winning a championship with the Trailblazers might not be realistic.

“There are a few reasons: One being I�m not getting any younger. Our environment has always been great. We�re not losing a lot, but we were eliminated by a shorthanded Denver team�that I felt we should have beat. I just walked away from that really disappointed. I was like, �Man; this just isn�t going to work.� We�re not winning the championship, but we�ve got a successful organization. We�re not a franchise that�s just out here losing every year and getting divided. We have positive seasons; we just don�t end up with a championship.”

Damian Lillard

The expectation is that Lillard will request a trade in the next few days, and the Knicks are at the top of his list. The Knicks got back into the playoffs last season and are only one or two places away from contending in the Eastern Conference.

” I think that’s the stage we’re at as a team where we all, not just me, not just my teammates, not just our new coaching staff, the front office, everybody in this organization must look in the mirror because we�ve constantly come up short. We have to look in the mirror and say I have to be better because whatever it is we�re doing is not working and it�s not giving us the shot to compete on the level that we want to compete on.”

Damian Lillard

Through all the speculation, Lillard denies requesting a trade and expects to be a Trailblazer next season. Lillard spoke to the media following Team USA’s practice on Friday.

“I woke up to those reports, a lot of people reaching out to me. But it’s not true. I’ll start off the rip and say it’s not true. A lot of things are being said. It hasn’t come from me. I haven’t made any firm decision on what my future will be.”

Damian Lillard

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