Blazers’ Damian Lillard discusses his legacy amid trade buzz

During an interview with Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, Portland Trail Blazers star point guard Damian Lillard talked about how important a championship would be for his legacy.

“I think it’s very important when you talk about how other people view me,” Lillard said. “Of course, people are going to say, ‘You don’t have a ring.’ You see how people talk to Charles Barkley, and he’s Charles Barkley. He was a great player. Of course it’s at the top of the list for me to win a championship. I don’t train and come into seasons thinking about anything more than wanting to win it this year.

“Personally, I know my body of work speaks for itself. I haven’t won a championship, but I’ve won a lot of games. I’ve had three seasons in my entire career where I wasn’t a winner out of 11 seasons. There were eight seasons where we were winning, and I was performing consistently at the level I’ve performed at for 11 years. That has to mean something, especially with how I’ve been as an individual, to go along with my performance. That has to say something.”

Lillard is one of the greatest players in NBA history. He was named to the 75th-anniversary team and has made seven All-Star teams and seven All-NBA teams.

The Weber State product has career averages of 25.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 6.7 assists.

“A championship would mean a lot to me, but in my personal opinion, if I don’t win it, it’s not the end all, be all to me,” Lillard said. “I wouldn’t be happy with it, but I think when you talk about other people’s perception, I think it’s extremely important to my legacy. It’s extremely important to me, but my opinion of me not winning wouldn’t be the same as others.”

Lillard has never made it to the NBA Finals. The 32-year-old may have to request a trade from the Blazers to win a title.