Damian "Dame Time" Lillard
“A chance to send the Thunder home. Lillard long-range three… ANDDDDD IT’S GOOOOD”
Damian Lillard
Damian Lillard. “Dame Time.” “The Letter O.” Throughout Lillard’s 13 seasons in the NBA, he has built a sterling reputation grounded in loyalty, dedication, and clutchness.
Upbringing
Now, how exactly did he create this persona? Lillard was born on July 15, 1990, in Oakland, California, in a neighborhood struggling with economic challenges and high crime rates. Even with all the commotion surrounding him, Lillard’s parents emphasized at a young age the ideals of discipline and accountability. As he started playing youth basketball at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland, this is where his NBA legacy first began.
High School
Switching between high schools posed challenges for Dame, but it didn’t stop him from being recruited out of high school. At this time major college basketball programs were offering Lillard a chance. However, he chose to accept a scholarship to Weber State University, reasoning that he wanted a small school with high interest over a big program with minimal interest.
College
Weber State turned out to be the perfect choice for Dame. In his freshman season, he was an absolute star, even winning the Big Sky Freshman of the Year honors. Throughout college, despite injuries which left him sidelined all his junior year, he continued to improve his craft until he became the nation’s leading scorer, averaging 24.5 points per game.
NBA
Entering the 2012 NBA Draft, it was clear Lillard was going to be a top 10 pick. Fate landed him as the sixth overall draft to the Portland Trailblazers, where Dame would cement his renowned loyalty.
Lillard started off hot, winning Rookie of the Year among his 2012 freshman peers, and even having memorable games that gave league veterans tough matchups. Kobe Bryant was asked in a post-game interview about what he thought of Dame, who responded that Lillard is “serious.”
As Dame grew with the Portland Trailblazers and established himself as a top five point guard in the league, the number of interested teams only increased from there. However, these scouts would not sway Lillard. Remaining on the Trailblazers his whole career, Lillard never budged his eyes from his first team. He stuck through the tough. Carrying teams on his back became an expectation for Lillard. With this weight of burden on his shoulders, it only seemed right to give the ball to one person in the clutch.
Damian Lillard is “that guy” when it comes to clutchness. With four career, game-winning buzzer beaters, two of which advanced his team in the playoffs, Lillard needs the ball in his hands when the clock is winding down. He’s done it countless times, in different settings, down by one, two, three, four. These clutch shots Dame hits have become routine and have solidified his reputation as potentially the most “clutch” player in NBA history.
Loyalty
Despite an otherwise impeccable loyal persona, Dame’s steadfastness with the Trailblazers actually wavered once in 2023: getting traded to the Milwaukee Bucks. After years of disappointment with each season ending in failure, Dame had had enough. His career was going to waste and he felt the need to make a change. However, Lillard never succeeded in achieving his career-long goal of a championship ring. Teamed with superstar Giannas Antetokounmpo, the two never really clicked.
After suffering a torn achilles in 2025 against the Pacers in the first round of the playoffs, the elimination that came shortly after catapulted a trigger to change once again. After disappointing seasons with the Bucks, superstar guard Damian Lillard realized the costs of his decision. With his love for his hometown, Dame recently re-signed with the Portland Trailblazers, choosing to showcase his loyalty and love one last time.
Ending Remarks
Following the hard-hitting Achilles tear, the trajectory of Damian Lillard’s performance is uncertain, but two things will always remain by his side. That he is clutch. That he is loyal. Oh, and a third, that he has one of the toughest celebrations in sports history. Dame Time.
Works Cited
Services, F. NBA. com N. (2025, July 19). Damian Lillard returns to Portland on 3-year deal. NBA. https://www.nba.com/news/damian-lillard-to-return-to-trail-blazers
TOI Sports Desk. (2025). The roots of Damian Lillard: A journey from Oakland to NBA Stardom: NBA News - Times of India. The Times of India. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/nba/where-does-damian-lillard-hail-from-exploring-the-childhood-of-milwaukee-bucks-star/articleshow/121364021.cms
FOX Sports. (2021, February 20). Damian Lillard is making his case as one of the clutchest players in NBA history. FOX Sports. https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/damian-lillard-clutch-michael-jordan-portland-trail-blazers-cj-mccollum
Lillard, D. (2023, February 2). Loyalty over everything: By Damian Lillard. The Players’ Tribune. https://www.theplayerstribune.com/articles/damian-lillard-loyalty-over-everythin