Damian Lillard returns to Portland with 'a lot of love' for the Trail Blazers

In Portland, Damian Lillard has averaged at least 24 points in each of the last 8 seasons, with his average being 25.1 points.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Damian Lillard said his return to Portland for the first time since leaving the Trail Blazers after 11 seasons comes with “a lot of love” for both the team and the community.

The eight-time All-Star will play his first game in Portland on Wednesday night since he was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in the offseason.

Lillard’s desire to join an NBA title contender and the Blazers’ focus on nurturing young talent led to the trade, without any hard feelings about his time in Portland.

“I had a great affection for the organization and everyone I worked with daily. The hardest part was that there was no broken relationship,” said Lillard on Tuesday. “Returning here, I find myself in a fantastic situation. The initial motivation for all of this was the opportunity to win it all. Unfortunately, we couldn’t be in that position simultaneously. So, I return with love and I’m thrilled to be back at the Moda Center.”

Lillard averaged 32.2 points with the Blazers last season and averaged at least 24 in each of the previous eight seasons. He became just the seventh player in NBA history to score more than 70 points in a game when he finished with 71 against the Houston Rockets last February.

During Lillard’s tenure, Portland only triumphed in four playoff series, reaching the Western Conference Finals a single time. Last season, the team recorded a 33-49 outcome, marking the second year in a row they ended far from the playoff scene.

Since losing their star point guard, the Blazers have struggled to adapt. Currently, they are in second-to-last place in the Western Conference with a 14-33 record.

Coach Chauncey Billups of the Blazers conceded that seeing Lillard in a different jersey would feel a bit odd. However, he’s glad for his friend and completely comprehends his decision to move forward.

“In our current circumstances, it’s not ideal to have him in such a challenging position where we’re all struggling, and he’s out there fighting hard, scoring 30s and 40s, and we’re still barely winning,” Billups expressed. “It was a challenging situation for him, but he never complained. He’s truly a warrior, always showing up to work and giving his best effort every time. I greatly respect him for that.”

Lillard is averaging 25.1 points and 6.8 assists with his new team, which is in flux. Milwaukee announced Friday night they had hired Doc Rivers to take over for Adrian Griffin, who was fired earlier in the week after only 43 games.

Despite the Bucks having one of the league’s best records at 32-15, Griffin was dismissed due to concerns about the team’s declining defensive rating.

The Bucks arrived in Portland for Wednesday’s game (10 ET, ESPN) on Monday night, and on Tuesday Lillard was honored at the North American headquarters for Adidas. Lillard has a sponsorship deal and a signature shoe with the company.

“He expressed his enthusiasm about returning to Moda Center, recognizing the faces of fans from his numerous games played there. He is eager to be home, in the familiar building, and to play the game uninhibitedly.”