
5. Dame makes big jump despite busy summer
Rap albums. Music videos. Filming movies in Hollywood. Sold out shows. Constant interviews and media appearances. It’s starting to look like Damian Lillard would still have a pretty comfortable life ahead of himself, even if he for some reason decided to never pick up a basketball again.
For that reason, it’s easy to say Dame is getting too distracted. Too caught up in the glitz and glamour of a superstar’s lifestyle. Those people wouldn’t understand the way Lillard’s brain works. Big Game Dame is a maniacal competitor and true professional. When he’s locked in and putting in work, it doesn’t mean he’s ignored the other facets of his career. It probably just means he woke up even earlier to fit both into his schedule.
Since I started putting out music and taking it seriously I have been better as a player. It’s balance. I don’t broadcast my training or have pick up game highlights that y’all love... but when the real thing comes we see who was doing what when the cameras were off! GoodMorning
— Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) August 19, 2019
Take for example the release dates of his two previous albums, The Letter O (October 21, 2016), and Confirmed (October 6, 2017). You would think spending all that time over the summer on mastering an album would have hurt his performance on the court.
You’d be wrong. In 2016-17, he set career highs in points, rebounds and field goal percentage. The following year, he posted the best offensive season of his career in categories such as true shooting percentage, Offensive Win Shares, Offensive Rating and OBPM. That was also the year he received his only All-NBA First Team nomination.
Don’t expect Dame to slow down now. He’s a true workaholic and poised full-steam ahead, and the Portland Trail Blazers will be that much better because of it. They are lucky to have such a driven individual leading the team.