Damian Lillard Reveals His Plans For Balance of Season

In his first address to the media since abdominal surgery, Damian Lillard has revealed his plans for whether or not he plans to play again this season. And bottom line is that he is open to sitting out the rest of the year, if the team is essentially out of the playoff mix.

The Portland Trail Blazers are currently 10th in the Western Conference at 19-26, but only two games up on the Sacramento Kings and New Orleans Pelicans.

Lillard admits he's in no rush to return.

"My number one goal is to win a championship and I need to be in the best form of myself to make that happen."@dame_lillard speaks to the media for the first time since his surgery: https://t.co/38jA6Xl9yx pic.twitter.com/wSizFKh857
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) January 22, 2022

"My number one goal is to win a championship and I need to be in the best form of myself to make that happen."

And if the team decided to "tank" to move up in the lottery?

"If we're going to play for a draft pick, then it wouldn't make sense...because I'm not going to play for a draft pick. I'm just not capable of that"

Damian Lillard to @jwquick when asked if he would play if the team was focused on moving up draft#RipCity | @Dame_Lillard pic.twitter.com/bT5oj46aPx
— Orlando Sanchez (@orlandokgw) January 22, 2022

"If we're going to play for a draft pick, then it wouldn't make sense...because I'm not going to play for a draft pick. I'm just not capable of that," Lillard said, meaning of course that he only knows one way to play, and that's to win.

As for his recovery, Lillard says all signs are positive, and that he's feeling good. The abdominal problem had been nagging him for years, and reached its peak at last summer's Olympics. "It was as painful as it had ever been."

Even the surgeon was astounded that he had played with this injury for so long. "The surgeon was (asking) me, 'how were you playing with this? What was going through your mind?'" He admits he's at peace having dealt with it.