Damian Lillard spent the first 11 years of his NBA career with the Portland Trail Blazers, trying to turn them into a championship contender. While the Portland Trail Blazers became one of the top teams in the Western Conference with him leading the way, the farthest they’ve reached is the Conference Finals in 2019.
When the team traded CJ McCollum to the New Orleans Pelicans in 2022, there was a huge writing on the wall that Damian Lillard would follow suit. A few months later, Lillard was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks to kick-start their rebuild.
Recently, Damian Lillard appeared on the Club 520 podcast with Jeff Teague to talk about various basketball topics, including his time in Portland, which had the biggest what-if of his career.
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“One thing I think about my career is like, if (LaMarcus Aldridge) would have never went to San Antonio, we would have won at least once (NBA championship) already. I would have came into my own, but he was that good,” Lillard said.
Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge were teammates for three seasons from 2012 to 2015.
The two reached the playoffs two times together. In 2013-14, the Portland Trail Blazers advanced to the second round for the first time in 14 years but were eventually eliminated by the San Antonio Spurs. And then, in 2014-15, Portland was bounced in the first round by the Memphis Grizzlies.
Portland Trail Blazers undergoing its rebuild phase
The Portland Trail Blazers haven’t returned to the postseason since losing to the Denver Nuggets in the first round in 2020-21. Last season, the team finished with a 21-61 record, good for 15th in the Western Conference.
Portland retooled their roster with the additions of Deni Avdija and Devonte’ Graham. However, much of their progress is tied to the development of Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe, in particular.
This summer, they acquired Donovan Clingan from the UConn Huskies with the No. 7 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, and he figures to be a key piece in their long-term rebuild.
