Damian Lillard didn't appreciate criticism of the Trail Blazers' controversial coaching search being directed at him. Considering Chauncey Billups was one of two candidates to take the reins in Portland he approved early in the process, though, it's safe to say Lillard is excited about the prospect of playing under him going forward.
But just because Billups represents a new page in Lillard's story with the Blazers doesn't mean he's ready to close the book on the last one.
During media availability ahead of Team USA's gold-medal matchup with France at the Tokyo Olympics, Lillard couldn't help but wax poetic on his time with Terry Stotts when asked about playing for Gregg Popovich and the American coaching staff.
"I've played my whole career for one coach, Terry Stotts. Those nine years was a great nine years," Lillard said. "We had a great relationship. I thought we got along really well. We experienced a lot of success together. That was a relationship that I cherished. I wanted it to last forever. That was my guy."
Obviously, Lillard looks back on his near-decade with Stotts in Portland fondly. He made as much abundantly clear when news of Stotts' mutual departure with the Blazers was initially reported, posting a series of photos on Instagram celebrating Portland's outgoing coaching staff.
The notion that Lillard wanted Stotts to be his coach "forever" isn't necessarily revelatory, either. When fingering Billups and Jason Kidd as his personal favorites to take over with the Blazers, Lillard said he'd "miss [Stotts] as my coach."
Notoriously loyal, Lillard no doubt would have preferred to bring Rip City a championship with Stotts on the sidelines. But just like his public mandate for upgrades to Portland's supporting cast, or else, change that Lillard knows is necessary doesn't have to be evil.
Stotts' time with the Blazers had run its course, just like Lillard believes his team's roster status quo has, too.
Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports reported on Wednesday that Lillard is still a long way from requesting a trade, in part due to his desire to play under Billups and his coaching staff. Lillard's laments about Stotts notwithstanding, he clearly values the opportunity to hone his craft under the tutelage of new coaches.
"To my point, having one coach for nine years, I've never experienced another coach's thoughts, or how they do things, or what they see and how they go about just being a coach," Lillard said. "So to be here and to be around so many high-level coaches and to see their way as opposed to what I've become accustomed to has been pretty cool."
More must-reads: