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Damian Lillard Expresses Concerns About The NBA's Fixation On Championships And Lack of Appreciation For The Journey

Photo: Instagram/Damian Lillard 

Damian Lillard, who has spent his entire career with the Portland Trail Blazers, is concerned about the current state of basketball discourse.

In an era where players are judged based on how many championships they have won, Lillard has made it clear that he values the journey and pursuit of winning.

He believes that fans are condensing players into simple counts of how many rings they have won, rather than appreciating their entire careers.

Photo: Instagram/Damian Lillard 

During an appearance on JJ Redick's Old Man and the Three podcast, Lillard expressed his worries about the NBA becoming a league that he no longer enjoys.

He is a throwback player in a league that is no longer designed to accommodate players like him.

Lillard is concerned about the league's fixation on winning championships at the expense of appreciating the journey and the regular season.

The league and players' union are currently negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement, and there is discussion about how to reengage fans throughout the entire season.

One idea is an in-season tournament, while others suggest shortening the schedule and eliminating back-to-back games.

However, the league's culture of valuing championships above all else may be difficult to untangle.

Load management has become increasingly common as players prioritize the postseason over the regular season.

Teams are willing to trade valuable draft picks for a shot at winning a championship, making it harder for other players to keep up.

The league and its key characters all prioritize championships, making it difficult to shift fan mentality away from counting rings.

Overall, Lillard is concerned about the direction the NBA is headed and worries that he may not be able to play in the league for much longer if it continues down this path.

He values the journey and the pursuit of excellence, and hopes that the league will find ways to reengage fans while still appreciating the regular season and players who do not have multiple championships.

Read Next: Brandon Ingram Cleared To Play Against Former Team Lakers After Ankle Injury

Source: CBS Sports 
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