Damian Lillard recently expressed his deep affection for the Portland Trail Blazers and the local community as he geared up for his first game back in Portland since leaving the team. Lillard, a distinguished eight-time NBA All-Star, made headlines when he was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks after an incredible 11-season tenure with the Blazers.

“I loved the organization. I loved everybody I went to work with every day. And I think what made it the hardest is it wasn’t a wasn’t a broken relationship. So coming back, being able to be here, I’m in a great situation. The reason it all came about in the first place was for a chance to win it all. We couldn’t be at that place at the same time. So I come back with love and am excited to be back in the Moda Center.”

His highly-anticipated return to the court is slated for Wednesday night.

During Lillard’s time with the Blazers, the team achieved a respectable level of success, but it wasn’t without its challenges.

Despite his remarkable contributions, the Blazers only secured four playoff series victories and made it to the Western Conference finals on one occasion. In the previous season, the team faced significant difficulties, culminating in a lackluster 33-49 record, marking their second consecutive year without a playoff appearance. The absence of their star point guard had a noticeable impact, as the Blazers struggled and currently find themselves languishing near the bottom of the Western Conference.

Lillard has seamlessly transitioned to his new team, the Milwaukee Bucks, where he is currently averaging an impressive 25.1 points and 6.8 assists per game. The Bucks recently underwent a significant coaching change, with Doc Rivers taking the reins from Adrian Griffin. Griffin’s departure was partly attributed to concerns about the team’s defensive performance, despite the Bucks boasting one of the best records in the league.

As a player with a lucrative sponsorship deal and a signature shoe line with Adidas, Lillard’s presence was celebrated at the company’s North American headquarters in Portland. Eagerly looking forward to his return to the Moda Center, he expressed his enthusiasm for playing in front of familiar fans and returning to a place he still considers his home.

“I’m excited to be back in Moda Center, I played so many games there I recognize fans’ faces from the court,” he said. “So seeing their faces and being back in the building, being back home, I’m excited to play the game and I’m going to play the game free.”

It will be interesting to see how Damian Lillard’s return to Portland fares for both him and the Milwaukee Bucks.

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