Damian Lillard Reveals Why He Dislikes The Direction Of The NBA

BYAlexander Cole1.6K Views
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New York Knicks v Portland Trail Blazers
PORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 14: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers reacts to a call during the third quarter against the New York Knicks at Moda Center on March 14, 2023 in Portland, Oregon. The New York Knicks won 123-107. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
Damian Lillard had a lot of great insights about today's game.

Damian Lillard is one of the best guards in the entire NBA. In fact, many would say he is one of the best point guards ever. Overall, he was named to the NBA's Top 75 team, which just goes to show that he is on track for the Hall of Fame. Although he has yet to win a title, he is still at the pinnacle of the sport. He has displayed incredible loyalty to the city of Portland, and that won't change anytime soon. However, fans still get on his case for not having a ring.

One could attribute this to a new affliction in NBA discourse, simply called "ring culture." This is the concept that nothing you do matters unless you win a title. Ultimately, it has become complete nonsense when you consider how amazing players are being completely discredited. Winning a title is not easy, however, NBA fans on Twitter think every player in the league should get a ring. It has become very silly, and Lillard spoke on this during an episode of JJ Redick's podcast. Additionally, Lillard revealed how ring culture has him fearing the future of the NBA.

Damian Lillard Speaks

"I just don't know if I can play a long, long time because I don't enjoy what the NBA as a whole is becoming," Lillard said. "While I understand we play to win championships—we all want to win the championship—we can't keep acting like nothing matters. Like the rest of this stuff, the journey, doesn't matter. We can't keep doing that." No matter how you feel about Lillard, he absolutely has a point. Ring culture has taken over NBA discourse, and now, 13-year-olds who hide behind Luol Deng profile pictures are telling legends that they are "scrubs."

Hopefully, this trend changes very soon. NBA Twitter has been nauseating these days, and it is tough to see. Perhaps one could blame the Super Team era for this trend. Although, Super Teams are dying off, so maybe the trend will as well. As for Lillard, he is an amazing player who will be remembered for his contributions to Portland. Let us know what you think of his take, down below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more news from around the sports world.

About The Author
Alexander Cole
Alexander Cole is the current editor-in-chief of HotNewHipHop. He started at HotNewHipHop back in 2018 where he began as a Sports and Sneakers writer. It was here where he began to hone his craft, putting his journalism degree from Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec, to good use. Since that time, he has documented some of the biggest stories in the hip-hop world. From the Kendrick Lamar and Drake beef to the disturbing allegations against Diddy, Alex has helped HotNewHipHop navigate large-scale stories as they happen. In 2021, he went to the Bahamas for the Big 3's Championship Game. It was here where he got to interview legendary figures like Ice Cube, Clyde Drexler, and Stephen Jackson. He has also interviewed other superstar athletes such as Antonio Brown, Damian Lillard, and Paul Pierce. This is in addition to conversations with social media provocateurs like Jake Paul, and younger respected artists like Kaycyy, Lil Tecca, and Jeleel!
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