Dame, via Quick: I wish LMA had mentored me

Damian Lillard didn’t have the closest relationship with LaMarcus Aldridge when he was in Portland.

Dame wishes that hadn’t been the case.

In a must-read article from Jason Quick of NBS Sports Northwest, Lillard opened up about his mentorship of Jusuf Nurkic, and how he wished he’d gotten the same guidance under Aldridge.

"I just feel like… it’s going to sound crazy, but it’s almost what I wish I had with LaMarcus, you know what I’m saying? Like, I wish it was more of a… more of a brotherhood, more of a line of communication, and me as a young player and him being an All-Star."

Below is a short video on the subject, in which Nurkic says “Damian Lillard is the best thing to happen to me in my life.”

Damian Lillard had previously discussed the circumstances around Aldridge’s departure. Dame tried to set the record straight when rumors were flying about the direction of the Blazers’ franchise (transcript via Blazer’s Edge):

"He did though. … When it came down to him leaving or him staying, it was a lot of stuff being said that wasn’t coming from me. … I was trying to get a hold of him because I started hearing what people were saying he heard: “It’s Dame’s team, and Dame don’t like playing with you.” It was just a lot of stuff that I knew in my heart I never said… so I was trying to get a hold of him to let him know, “Regardless of if you leave or stay, I just want you to know it was never like that… I was fine with you shooting 24 times a game, ‘cause I’m going to score 20, and we’re going to win more games together than if you leave.”By the time we spoke he was like, “Man, honestly, it seems like the team want to make you the face of the franchise, and I’m going to move on and do this.” I was like “Alright, I respect it,” but he told me maybe a day or two before it actually came out."

There were also other reports that Aldridge didn’t appreciate the attention Dame received, even if the team put the spotlight on Aldridge:

"Throughout the final, formal meeting in late June, it became clear that Aldridge hadn’t completely let go of years-old issues with the way he believed ex-Blazers Brandon Roy and Greg Oden had overshadowed him in the early part of his career. This was part of Aldridge’s personality that everyone surrounding him understood – that the teams recruiting him had researched and debated internally on how to navigate in the recruiting process.Leaving that meeting in Dallas in late June, perhaps little was more telling than the fact Aldridge never raised one particular name: Damian Lillard. Ultimately, this was the enigma of LaMarcus Aldridge. He wanted talent around him, but never too much that it might cast a shadow on his own marquee. Pleasing Aldridge was never easy, and nobody knew that better than the Portland Trail Blazers."

Next: Should the Blazers trade with the Clippers?

Blazers fans can rest assured that the relationship between Dame and Nurk is nothing like that between LaMarcus and Dame. Again, from Quick’s article:

"“There were times when I needed it [from LaMarcus], it just didn’t happen,’’ Lillard said.“I definitely feel it. I definitely feel it. I’ve never had somebody like this, somebody like Dame,’’ Nurkic said. “He is there for me, no matter if I’m good or bad. He is an amazing person, and he will make me better.’’"