Damian Lillard’s new contract with the Trail Blazers of the NBA is a source of pride for the six-time All Star who has spent his entire career in Portland.
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“I don’t think you win something like this just by going out there and scoring a bunch of points,” he said. “Something that’s missing in our league is the character, the fight, the passion and the pride, you know, not just the name on the back, but the name on the front, and how you impact the people you walk in with. in contact. .”
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Damian Lillard has agreed to a two-year extension through the 2026-27 season. A person with knowledge of the negotiations said the deal is worth $225 million.
Lillard formally signed the extension with her son on her lap and her grandmother watching on the phone from Oakland. He was speaking at a news conference Saturday night at the NBA summer league in Las Vegas.
Lillard will earn about $59 million in 2025-26, then about $63 million next year, said the person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity on Friday because the extension has not been announced.
He will earn about $137 million over the next three seasons, before the extension begins.
“There are two types of teams: teams looking for superstars and teams looking for one. We’re lucky to have one,” Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said. “One who wants to be here.”
Lillard was limited to 29 games last season due to a core injury that required surgery. The Blazers finished 27-55, their worst record since 2005-06.
While Damian Lillard was sidelined, the team cleaned house, pulling off a number of trades before the February deadline, including sending backcourt teammate CJ McCollum to New Orleans, which put the Blazers under the luxury tax and freed up space under the salary cap.
Then the Portland Trail Blazers made a series of offseason moves to build around Lillard. Portland acquired Jerami Grant from the Detroit Pistons and signed free agent Gary Payton II, who was key to Golden State’s championship run.
Lillard played with Grant on the gold medal-winning US team at last year’s Tokyo Olympics. Grant averaged 19.2 points in 47 games last season with the Pistons.
Lillard said he thinks the team is headed in the right direction.
“I’m more eager than ever to go out there and make something happen,” he said. “I am in a great space mentally and physically. I will come into this season comfortable and ready to do it, and do it at the highest level.”
Lillard, who turns 32 on July 15, said that in addition to healing his body in recent months, he also had a mental break that he believes will make him a better player in the future.
“In my entire career, I haven’t been injured. I had an injury that took me out, and that was when I was in college and I broke my foot. And that was the last time I was able to walk away,” she said. “I didn’t recreate myself, I just reloaded and came back and I was better than ever.”
He has averaged 24.6 points in his career. He was selected as a member of the top 75 players in the league as part of the NBA’s 75th anniversary celebration last season.
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