A homecoming to remember.
Damian Lillard made his highly anticipated return to Portland as a member of the Milwaukee Bucks last night since the trade that sent Lillard to Milwaukee over the offseason.
Before the game, Lillard spoke about what it means to return to Portland, a place he called home throughout most of his career.
"Because of how I feel about Portland... my time that I've spent here. In my mind, that's where I always felt that my career would end," ESPN reported Lillard saying.
Portland Trail Blazers: Emotional Night in PDX
Despite the emotional homecoming for the Blazers great, Lillard and the Bucks lost 119-116 to the Trail Blazers. Lillard had finished the game with 25 points, seven assists, and six rebounds.
Lillard would receive a standing ovation during the game along with a video tribute highlighting his career as a member of the Portland Trail Blazers.
Lillard spent 11 of his 12 seasons in Portland, where he was drafted by the team sixth overall in the 2012 NBA Draft. He later rose to become one of the best players in the league.
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During his tenure with the Blazers, Lillard had plenty of memorable moments; including leading the team to the playoffs in eight out of his 12 seasons in the Rose City.
He took the team to the Western Conference finals in 2019, where they lost to the Golden State Warriors in a series in which they got swept.
Lillard has scored 19,376 points during his time with the Trail Blazers, making him the franchise's all-time scoring leader. Damian is also the franchise leader in free throws made with 4,427.
Though he says he is committed to the Milwaukee Bucks, Lillard is open to returning to Portland before he calls an end to his career.
"Right now, I'm just in a space like this, which is where I am now. I'm in Milwaukee. I wanted the opportunity to contend, and our team has an opportunity to contend for this year and years to come, and I'm just living in that. But I definitely, when I was traded, I see a day where I'll be in a Trail Blazer uniform again before I'm done."
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