The NBA universe is intimately aware of the phenomenon that is Damian Lillard, of the Portland Trail Blazers. But nine years ago, ESPN’s Marc Spears had a preview of the physical and psychological skills that the Blazers guard was ready to launch during a pre-draft workout. He tells the story on the Hoop Collective podcast.
“I remember seeing him at Merritt College, which you probably never heard of, in Oakland when he worked out, which was the most incredible workout I’ve ever seen.”
“He was in incredible shape, he was doing an exercise where he was shooting with three points and then running back to the base line on the other side, running back and shooting three more points. It is as if he kept crossing from one end of the court to the other, but shooting three points and hitting them at high speed all the time. “
“It was like a multi-minute exercise where I’m like OK, he’s about to drop dead, he’s tired and he’s hitting all three. And you had it, Portland was there, Golden State was there and there was another team, maybe the Clippers were there. “
“And then he’s doing this complete sprint from the baseline to the three-point line, three-point shots, getting everything right. And he is from Weber State, as How is not nervous. And then, after hitting about eight three, he is sweating profusely and then goes down the middle and gives a hatchet dunk. And I was like Oh my God. “
Spears continues to talk about Lillard’s psyche and his motivation to keep improving, a mental structure that is keeping Blazers tormented by injuries afloat this season.
“I saw him play, I fell in love with his game, with his anger and his hunger and he is never satisfied, he is like a guy from East Oakland who received nothing.”
“Well when you think, well, you’re the Rookie of the Year, you don’t have a chip anymore, yes, I do, you’re All NBA, yes, that’s not enough, you’re an All Star, that’s not enough . “
“I want to be a Portland and I want to win a championship here and until that happens I’ll just keep fighting and scratching and then you think that when CJ gets hurt, a long list of guys will get hurt, the Blazers would fall apart, but that says you why he is a great, why he is a future Hall of Famer, why he should be perhaps the best for MVP now. “
“Because they’re 18 and 11 and he’s working with all these young guys who haven’t proved themselves and are doing better.”
You can listen to the podcast here. The Blazers’ lecture starts at the 27-minute mark.