Damian Lillard Still Matters As The Trail Blazers’ Cheerleader

With Lillard in the fold, the team has a leader in the locker room. He is a respected figure who will be a valuable mentor to the young players. The team also has Jrue Holiday, who is another fantastic veteran that Lillard loves.

Lillard won’t be on the court like Holiday, but he will be a loud voice on the sidelines. Most people might scoff at Billups saying Lillard’s his assistant, but that matters. The players respect Lillard, and with his history with the Trail Blazers, he has earned that respect.

The Young Players Will Love Lillard’s Leadership

From the current roster, only Sharpe, Jerami Grant, and Matisse Thybulle were on the roster when Lillard was there. The rest of the team will benefit from his leadership, especially Scoot Henderson. The young facilitator will be the long-term lead guard, and Lillard can pass the torch this season.

It will be challenging for the Trail Blazers to compete at the highest level in the 2025-26 season. However, Lillard’s leadership in practice and in the locker room is significant.

Henderson, in particular, will get many opportunities to shine. With Holiday serving as his on-court mentor and Lillard working with him, his potential is bright.

Other young players like Blake Wesley, Yang Hansen, and Rayan Rupert will also benefit. A superstar like Lillard is always a big deal for them, considering they are familiar with his work. They have watched or played against him, so they will learn and possibly adapt parts of Lillard’s game to theirs.

Billups Will Appreciate Lillard’s Return

As the coach, Billups will love having a trusted star on his team. They worked together a few years ago, so Lillard’s return is welcome. Billups is also a notable fan of having experienced players. Now that Lillard is Portland’s veteran again, Billups got his wish.

That is even better because Holiday also joined the team via trade. They had to let go of Anfernee Simons to do so, but that clears up the confusion. Holiday provides Henderson with more opportunities and upside.

Lillard will serve as Billups’ assistant, and the coach will also have fewer headaches with his rotation. As long as they can keep improving under Billups and Lillard’s leadership, the Blazers are in good hands.