Lillard committed to Rip City rebuild
Despite their 16-24 record, the Portland Trail Blazers sit just two-and-a-half games behind the eighth-seeded Utah Jazz.
Although slightly more than half of the season remains for Portlandia's finest, possessing a better league standing than eight other teams at the midway point of the season is a somewhat unexpected turn of events.
Nevertheless, the Blazers' 2016 outlook is far less optimistic than it was this time last year. With one of the league's youngest rosters on his hands (average player age: 24.6), head coach Terry Stotts' squad has little chance of making a third consecutive trip to the playoffs this spring - a reality that is not lost on the franchise's best player.
"Things get tough. It’s a tough league," Damian Lillard told CSNNW's Jason Quick. "You have ups and downs. We flipped our roster, man. We completely flipped and got a brand new team. And I signed up to be a part of it. To be a part of the growth."
The two-time All-Star - who handled the departure of franchise fixture LaMarcus Aldridge as well as anyone could have given the challenging circumstances - didn't hesitate to include himself in his team's long-term plans.
"I have to grow just as much as our team has to grow, and I’m excited about that, that’s why it’s not hard for me to say that’s what I want," he reiterated.
As Aldridge and Wesley Matthews enjoy life in Texas, and former Blazer do-it-all swingman Nicolas Batum gives the Charlotte Hornets a bang for their buck, Lillard has been left behind with a collection of NBA newbies and underappreciated cast-offs.
So, what has Lillard feeling so committed to a team - and a city - whose prospects seem so uncertain?
"It’s been like a hand-and-glove fit," He explained. "The fact that they have embraced who I am, the person along with the basketball player ... I don’t think there is anything more comfortable than that. That’s why I have no problem committing to something like that."
When told that his recent 40-point, 10-assist performance was the first of its kind in the Moda Center, Lillard replied confidently.
"It’s always good to be the first one to do something. Especially being part of an organization I plan on being a part of for my entire career."
Such reassurance is like a ray of light shining through Rip City's dreary January overcast and onto its hardwood hopes.