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Julius Erving Respects Damian Lillard For Trying In Portland Before Requesting Trade

Originally posted on FanNation Inside The Heat
By Shandel Richardson | Last updated 7/28/23

NBA great Julius Erving has no problem with Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard wanting to chase a championship with the Miami Heat.

Erving said Lillard earned that right by sticking it out in Portland for 11 years before deciding to move on. In Erving's eyes, at least Lillard tried with his original team.

"Wherever he goes, he probably will finish his career because of his age and the fact that he's played 12, 13 years and he wants to have a chance at winning a championship and he doesn't think he can get it [in Portland]," Erving said during an appearance on media personality Joy De'Angela's podcast. "So that's a good reason [to leave] but a guy 26 or 27 just wanting to hop around? How many times has [Kevin] Durant hopped around?"

Dame, KD, Super Teams…. Dr. J has thoughts! pic.twitter.com/ZC2FTe8EFs
— Joy De’Angela (@joydeangela) July 28, 2023

Erving had opposite sentiments toward players like Durant, James Harden and LeBron James. All switched teams during the prime of their career.

"These guys, since prisoners are running the show and not the warden," Erving said. "It's just where a star player on the team is like, `Oh, screw this city and all the support that they've given me and I'm going south. I'm going to Florida. I'm going to LA. I'm going to Texas or I'm going somewhere else. These decisions, and they're business decisions and I understand, but they have not helped the game. They have not help keep parity within the game when you build these super teams."

This article first appeared on FanNation Inside The Heat and was syndicated with permission.

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