This time, it’s well and truly over. After a song to settle scores, Damian Lillard took care to write one last letter to Blazers fans before leaving for Milwaukee. Through a long missive, the future leader of the Bucks thanked all his supporters and many people who marked his adventure in Oregon, where he arrived at the age of 22 to build his legend.
“I would like to start by saying that this is not a goodbye, but a see you later. My words have always come from the bottom of my heart when it comes to you, Rip City. I consider you and many of my family members my home and that will not change. I have built my entire adult life here and made so many friends that I will never forget. The times I had on the field, as great as they were, don’t even compare to the experience I had with all of you. The way you welcomed me from day one gave me no choice but to return that love a thousand times over and I don’t regret it for a single moment. I have to admit that it makes me sad to see some people switching sides and appearing as adversaries after my transfer request, without knowing the facts. Because I am truly one of you.”
“I was the young one, the new kid, the confident one, the proud one, the competitive one, the city lover, the leader coming out of a “Mid-major” that you couldn’t live without. Today, I’m older and about to take the exit, an exit that I always prayed would lead me to retirement, and not to another team. I leave with nothing but love for the fans and this city. This will never change.”
“I believe there will come a day when I will put on the Blazers uniform again, and I hope that when I do, I will be forgiven for breaking your hearts along with my own.”
Damian Lillard then delivered a long series of thanks, addressed in particular to GM Neil Olshey, to his former coach, Terry Stotts, with whom he spent nine years, all of his former teammates, and even the current coach of the Blazers , Chauncey Billups.
With emotion, he finally addressed the fans of “Rip City” one last time, not closing the door to a possible return to finish his career there, which he sees as a way of making amends.
“As this chapter of my life comes to a close, I look back and realize how special it was. Even right now, I’m sad that we never accomplished what I wanted so badly. I don’t cry a lot, but I know my love for you is real because of the few tears that are falling right now. Rip City, you know my heart and my position, because I held it for over a decade. So having to move out of my home hurts my heart. As my guy Chief says, “A man don’t stop the show,” and the Rip City show must go on, with or without me. I believe there will come a day when I will put on the Blazers uniform again, and I hope that when I do, I will be forgiven for breaking your hearts along with my own.”
RipCity Forever ❤️… Dame Time has run out 🫡 pic.twitter.com/Rnm8oT5qF7
— Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) September 28, 2023
| Damian Lillard | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2012-13 | POR | 82 | 39 | 42.9 | 36.8 | 84.4 | 0.5 | 2.6 | 3.1 | 6.5 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 3.0 | 0.2 | 19.1 |
| 2013-14 | POR | 82 | 36 | 42.4 | 39.4 | 87.1 | 0.4 | 3.1 | 3.5 | 5.6 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 2.4 | 0.3 | 20.7 |
| 2014-15 | POR | 82 | 36 | 43.4 | 34.3 | 86.4 | 0.6 | 4.0 | 4.6 | 6.2 | 2.0 | 1.2 | 2.7 | 0.3 | 21.0 |
| 2015-16 | POR | 75 | 36 | 41.9 | 37.5 | 89.2 | 0.6 | 3.4 | 4.0 | 6.8 | 2.2 | 0.9 | 3.2 | 0.4 | 25.1 |
| 2016-17 | POR | 75 | 36 | 44.4 | 37.0 | 89.5 | 0.6 | 4.3 | 4.9 | 5.9 | 2.0 | 0.9 | 2.6 | 0.3 | 27.0 |
| 2017-18 | POR | 73 | 37 | 43.9 | 36.1 | 91.6 | 0.9 | 3.6 | 4.5 | 6.6 | 1.6 | 1.1 | 2.8 | 0.4 | 26.9 |
| 2018-19 | POR | 80 | 36 | 44.4 | 36.9 | 91.2 | 0.9 | 3.8 | 4.6 | 6.9 | 1.9 | 1.1 | 2.7 | 0.4 | 25.8 |
| 2019-20 | POR | 66 | 38 | 46.3 | 40.1 | 88.8 | 0.5 | 3.8 | 4.3 | 8.0 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 2.9 | 0.3 | 30.0 |
| 2020-21 | POR | 67 | 36 | 45.1 | 39.1 | 92.8 | 0.5 | 3.8 | 4.2 | 7.5 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 3.0 | 0.3 | 28.8 |
| 2021-22 | POR | 29 | 36 | 40.2 | 32.4 | 87.8 | 0.5 | 3.7 | 4.1 | 7.3 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 2.9 | 0.4 | 24.0 |
| 2022-23 | POR | 58 | 36 | 46.3 | 37.1 | 91.4 | 0.8 | 4.0 | 4.8 | 7.3 | 1.9 | 0.9 | 3.3 | 0.3 | 32.2 |
| Total | 769 | 36 | 43.9 | 37.2 | 89.5 | 0.6 | 3.6 | 4.2 | 6.7 | 1.9 | 1.0 | 2.8 | 0.3 | 25.2 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
