Damian Lillard doesn't plan on going to Toronto if snubbed from All-Star team
Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard felt "disrespected" by being left off the Western Conference All-Star team last season, although an injury to Los Angeles Clippers big man Blake Griffin got him on the final roster.
Should he not be named a reserve this time around, Lillard will simply avoid Toronto - the location of the 2016 NBA All-Star Weekend - entirely.
Damian Lillard said that if he isn't selected as an All-Star he does not plan to be in the 3-point shootout or in Toronto at all.
— Erik Gundersen (@blazerbanter) January 25, 2016
Instead, it appears the Weber State product would spend the break getting some R&R.
@SourDShawn @blazerbanter lol if I don't make it... I'm goin on vacation instead. Is that cool? 🤔
— Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) January 25, 2016
Lillard is currently tied for fifth in the NBA in made 3-pointers with 120 while shooting 38 percent from beyond the arc (35th). He's an easy choice to participate in the 3-point shootout at the Air Canada Centre, but fans pining to see him in it again (he participated in the competition in 2014, along with four other All-Star Weekend events) will be disappointed should he not get an All-Star nod.
His numbers warrant strong consideration to make the team, though, with averages of 24.6 points on 42.3 percent shooting, along with 6.9 assists and 4.4 rebounds over 39 appearances. In addition, his Trail Blazers are 1.5 games out of the final playoff spot in the West following a summer that saw four of their starters go elsewhere.