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Are the Portland Trailblazers wasting Damian Lillard’s prime?

By Thomas J. Brown

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 23: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers celebrates as he points to his wrist after scoring a three-pot basket in the closing seconds of the game against Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena on October 23, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.(Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)(Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 23: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers celebrates as he points to his wrist after scoring a three-pot basket in the closing seconds of the game against Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena on October 23, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.(Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)(Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /
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Jan 19, 2023; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) dunks the ball over Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) in the second half at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 19, 2023; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) dunks the ball over Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) in the second half at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports /

The Portland Trailblazers are four games below .500 and are currently ranked 12th in the Western Conference standings. If the postseason were to start today, they would be on the outside looking in on the NBA’s annual play-in tournament. Simply put, the team is far from title contention and doesn’t appear to be headed in that direction anytime soon.

The team has a transcendent superstar at the point guard position, Damian Lillard. In addition to being a perennial All-Star and the newly crowned 3-point Contest Champion, Lillard recently scored 71 points in a single game, solidifying his status as one of the most explosive offensive talents in league history. While Lillard is unquestionably a first-ballot Hall of Famer, the best accolade that an all-time great can add to their resume seems to be alluding to him: NBA Champion.

Damian Lillard is in the prime of his career. At 32 years old some fans are wondering out loud if he should leave the Portland Trailblazers.

Over the years, there have been a lot of great NBA players who have finished their careers without championships. Names like Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, and Reggie Miller, along with many others, are often associated with this narrative. There is often a distinction in discussions about great players based on those who won titles versus those who did not. For example, whenever Dirk Nowitzki is talked about, the first topic fans bring up is his epic 2011 playoff run that culminated in an NBA Championship and a Finals MVP. He would be a Hall of Famer without that amazing stretch of play, but that postseason forever solidified his greatness.

Like any other great player, Dame Lillard wants the chance to lift the Larry O’Brien trophy and experience the euphoria of winning basketball’s ultimate prize. Many fans believe he will have to leave Portland in order to do so. Let’s take a closer look at whether or not the Portland Trailblazers are wasting the prime years of their superstar point guard’s career.