Damian Lillard struggled mightily in 2021-22. Not only did his Portland Trail Blazers fail to make the playoffs altogether, but his personal campaign was also mired by underperformance and injuries.
For obvious reasons, Lillard seems intent on coming back stronger than ever in 2022-23.
And he doesn’t appear to want to wait to get back to work.
This week, video emerged of Lillard training hard in the gym – and he looks absolutely jacked. The clip largely speaks for itself:
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As do the reactions:
#DameTime https://t.co/UPLByuibt8
— “The Man To See” (@Turkey_Creek4) June 29, 2022
He’s actually so sexy omg. https://t.co/0Z4ZjKy3cF
— Nahiyan (@ObeyTheBossV3) June 29, 2022
LET’S GO!! https://t.co/byY1e3Ps2O
— あいあーる (@NORM24UTG) June 29, 2022
That said, not everyone was hyped. Some responses were less-than-optimistic.
Another year of getting knocked out the playoffs & I don’t eem feel bad for him no more https://t.co/pySI9ebPL5
— JUSTIN TUCKER STAN ACCT (@LuffyTheDon) June 29, 2022
Dame dolla my dawg but the blazers ain’t doing shit ! Tho I’m being real https://t.co/KndnMX0rFG
— AD (@KingDee213) June 29, 2022
Revenge season? We’ve been waiting for revenge season for 5 years now. https://t.co/W0FQ4SUd7C
— Ziven (@TheRealZiven) June 29, 2022
This is going to be a career-defining season for Lillard. He played in just 29 outings last year and had to sit idly by as the team traded away his running mate in C.J. McCollum.
McCollum subsequently turned around and made an impressive playoff run with the New Orleans Pelicans.
The Blazers acquired Jerami Grant this offseason in an effort to provide Lillard with a legitimate No. 2 option. Time will tell how that works out for all involved.
If the experiment fails, the trade talks will inevitably start up once more. Lillard has already made it clear that he will accept a trade under one condition. And people close to him have acknowledged that there is one team he would have interest in going to.
Yikes. https://t.co/MnaN8fSOpv
— Game 7 (@game7__) June 29, 2022
But that’s if things don’t get off on the right foot in 2022-23. And if his workout video is any indication, Lillard is doing however possible to ensure that the Blazers are a legit playoff threat come next season.
Can Lillard reclaim his throne as one of the NBA’s top players? Time will tell.
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Charles Kruger has been credentialed to cover two Super Bowls, four NBA Finals, and one World Series. A 20-year veteran in the sports world, he has sources spanning the NBA, MLB, NFL, UFC and NASCAR. Currently residing in Los Angeles, Calif., he is Game 7’s go-to source for rumors surrounding the Lakers, Clippers and Dodgers.
