Kofi Inkoom
Damian Lillard, a star play for the Portland Trail Blazers, recently received an interesting outcome when the team’s supporters were surveyed about their opinions of him.
While trade discussions involving Lillard remain unresolved, the Trail Blazers are in a state of uncertainty. The possibility of Lillard being traded to his preferred destination, Miami, remains uncertain.
In a new development, Lillard unveiled his latest shoe design, generating significant buzz and conversations. Adding to the intrigue, Jimmy Butler of the Miami Heat paid tribute to Lillard’s ‘Dame Time’ gesture, potentially indicating upcoming developments in the trade discussions.
Jimmy Butler x ⌚️ pic.twitter.com/mghEVWS8x9
— Brady Hawk (@BradyHawk305) August 28, 2023
In a recent survey conducted by The Athletic, 1,600 fans of the Blazers were polled to assess any shifts in their opinion of former Weber State Wildcat and iconic long-term player due to his trade demands.
The results were unexpected, highlighting the city’s enduring affection for their star guard. The overwhelming majority of Blazers fans still hold a strong fondness for Lillard.
Out of the total respondents, 62.6% of Blazers fans stated that their view of Lillard remained unchanged despite his trade requests. This suggests that even if Damian Lillard was to be traded to the Miami Heat or another non-rival organization, the admiration for him would persist.
Meanwhile, 31.5% of fans expressed a decreased liking for Lillard compared to before, and a small portion indicated they no longer support the Blazers guard.
A smaller subset of fans indicated an increased affinity for him. Since being selected as the sixth overall pick in 2012, Damian Lillard has maintained a career average of 25.2 points in the NBA. Notably, last season, at the age of 32, he achieved a career-high average of 32.2 points per game while playing for the Blazers.
Lillard has expressed his desire to be traded to Miami, a team led by Head Coach Erik Spoelstra. Under Spoelstra’s guidance, the likes of Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, and Duncan Robinson made it to the 2023 NBA Finals, falling short against the Denver Nuggets led by Nikola Jokic.
However, despite Lillard’s preference, the Blazers’ team manager, Joe Cronin, has been reluctant to engage in trade discussions with the Miami Heat to facilitate the deal.