It is not in <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/i-thought-for-sure-i-was-going-back-home-donovan-mitchell-on-his-failed-knicks-move-2756-20220914-SPD-2756.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Damian Lillard</a>‘s plans to leave the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-rumors-how-patrick-beverley-trade-could-impact-future-of-russell-westbrook-at-lakers-2618-20220827-SPD-2618.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Portland Trail Blazers</a>, where he has played his entire professional basketball career. Lillard recently said on the Dave Pasch Podcast that he has no intentions to leave Portland anytime soon.



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">To a question about whether or not he plans to play all his career with the Blazers, Lillard said, “I do. I do. I’ve had my share of people saying, ‘Man, you got to get out of there. You’ve got to do this, you’ve got to do that.’ But I’m the type of person that I’m never going to be marching to the beat of nobody else’s drum. I’m going to always do what I feel like is in my best interest and that I really feel in my heart.</blockquote>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">“I want to win. I want to win in Portland. It would mean something to me to do it here. … This is me being loyal to who I am, and how I feel and what I want to see happen. I would love to finish my career here. That’s my plan, and that’s that.”</blockquote>



<h2>Damian Lillard plans to remain with Trail Blazers for life</h2>



Lillard was picked by the Trail Blazers in the sixth round of the 2012 NBA Draft. Only two other current players have been with the club that selected them longer than Lillard has now: Warriors guards Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. Lillard places a high value on loyalty, and he believes that remaining with the Blazers and the Portland Trail Blazers organization is a way for him to honor both himself and the team.



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">“I feel like we’ll have a chance to win. feel like that moment is going to come. I feel like that opportunity is going to come, and that’s that. As long as I feel that our organization is putting their best foot forward and we’re on the same page about doing everything that we can do to win, then I’m willing to go out swinging.”</blockquote>

Damian Lillard committed to Trail Blazers for rest of his career - thesportsdrops NEWS

Damian Lillard committed to Trail Blazers for rest of his career

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<a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-rumors-eric-bledsoe-to-become-free-agent-after-blazers-cut-ties-2068-20220708-SPD-2068.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Damian Lillard</a>, a key player for the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-rumors-trail-blazers-in-talks-for-matisse-thybulle-with-76ers-1726-20220624-SPD-1726.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Portland Trail Blazers</a>, is very close to finalizing an extension that would pay him $122 million over the course of two more seasons. According to Bobby Marks of ESPN, it will keep him in Portland until the 2026-27 season, making him one of the biggest earners in the history of the NBA.



According to Spotrac, Damian Lillard’s lifetime earnings from playing on the court will surpass $450 million by the time his contract expires in 2027. This would place him third in all-time earnings, behind only <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-rumors-nets-seeking-to-secure-a-deal-for-kevin-durant-after-star-requests-trade-1907-20220630-SPD-1907.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kevin Durant</a> and <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-news-stephen-curry-wins-first-finals-mvp-award-in-career-1586-20220617-SPD-1586.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stephen Curry.</a>



Lillard is coming off of an injury-plagued season in which he participated in just 29 games, which was the fewest number of games he has ever played in throughout his career. As the Trail Blazers slipped out of postseason contention, he was forced to be shut down after undergoing stomach surgery to treat a nagging issue. 



<h2>Damian Lillard to stay failtful to Portland for another two years</h2>



Even as the Trail Blazers try to retool after a disappointing season, the six-time All-Star remains the team’s central figure. The 31-year-old has played his whole career in Portland, where he won the Rookie of the Year title in 2012-13 and was selected for six All-Star games and six times earned All-NBA accolades.



Now that they have the star point guard under contract, Chauncey Billups’ side have an obligation to provide him the tools he needs to be successful in the NBA Playoffs. This summer, they have strengthened their roster by re-signing Jusuf Nurkic and Anfernee Simons and by acquiring Jerami Grant and Gary Payton II.

Damian Lillard

Damian Lillard committed to Trail Blazers for rest of his career

NBA Free Agency: New Trail Blazers contract to make Damian Lillard one of highest earners in NBA history

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