Lillard returns and warns the NBA: “I’m still the same Dame”
Damian Lillard is back: 15 points, 3 threes and plenty of confidence after the long layoff. And another challenge at the 3-Point Contest is already on the horizon
15 points, 3 threes and, above all, the feeling that he had never really left. Damian Lillard returned to the court after his serious Achilles tendon injury, and his first appearance already offered encouraging signs.
The former Buck finished with 15 points, 2 steals, 5-of-11 shooting from the field and 3-of-8 from three, immediately showing good confidence in his shot. But more than the numbers, it was his words after the game that stood out.
I felt like myself. It was like I was just playing another game
Damian Lillard
Lillard: “I don’t expect to be any different from who I’ve always been”
Recovering from an Achilles tendon injury is one of the toughest challenges for a player, especially in the later stages of a career.
Lillard, however, does not seem willing to lower his expectations.
My main goal is to come back from a major injury and be myself. I feel like I’ve gotten everything back that I had before. I feel explosive going both ways, I feel like I can take any shot from any distance. And tonight, that’s exactly how I felt
Damian Lillard
It is not just about getting back into physical condition. Dame wants to prove that age and injury have not changed the player he has been throughout his career.
Regardless of age and the injury, I want to come back. I’m someone who works really hard, takes care of my body, loves this game and tries to do things the right way. I want to prove that when you have those qualities, you can come back and be who you were. I don’t expect to be any different from who I’ve always been
Damian Lillard
Lillard also spoke about the team’s goals: reaching the Playoffs and trying to go further than last season, without losing sight of the personal journey that brought him back to the court.
And for anyone wondering whether Dame still has the desire to test himself outside official games too, there was another confirmation: he will once again take part in the All-Star Weekend 3-Point Contest.
Yeah, I’m doing it. I have to
Damian Lillard
The injury kept him sidelined, but it does not seem to have changed the way he sees basketball. Lillard still wants to be Lillard, without compromises and without lowering expectations. And his first game back is already a good place to start.