The Portland Trail Blazers knew what they were getting themselves into when they went out and acquired former Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant. The guard comes with his share of baggage, and he has already committed to trying to thwart the "bad guy" label that has plagued his career.
While the fiery guard seeks reform, another star might be trending in the opposite direction, and fans may see the most villainous version of him yet.
It's been over a year since Damian Lillard last stepped foot on an NBA court, and he is no doubt itching to get back into the swing of things. Recently, however, he has spent some of his idle time warring with fans over social media, and he has not minced words in the process.
Damian Lillard has a chip on his shoulder heading into 2026-27
His latest dispute came from a video of his former teammate, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Miami point guard Davion Mitchell working out together in Greece. A Heat fan decided to take a cheap shot at Lillard on X by saying, "Davion doing what Dame wouldn't even do."
It would have been an easy decision to ignore the situation altogether, but Lillard elected to go a different route.
"Lol [people] don't want Dame to tell it. Be thankful I ain't running my mouth like these other suckas... carry on," were some of the (non-expletive) words Dame used in his clap-back.
It's clear Dame has his own story about what went down in Milwaukee and hasn't gotten over it yet. The snarky comment from a fan may have just poked the bear. Lillard has no doubt played with a chip on his shoulder before. Much of his career has been defined by the underdog mentality he has adopted since his days in Oakland, receiving little to no collegiate interest.
It's no surprise that the current version of Lillard, one who hasn't played in an NBA game since April of 2025, has even more to prove than ever. It appears that, if anyone decides it's a good idea to take jabs at him, he will have no problem punching back. Given the trajectory of his career, it will likely be a knock-out blow.
All bets are off for Lillard this year. Now age 36, he reunites with a Blazers franchise that has committed to putting many workable pieces around him. The addition of Morant makes for a potentially lethal backcourt, and the team boasts a unique combination of size, athleticism, and defensive ability all over the floor.
If the future Hall-of-Famer plays his cards right, he could channel his pent-up animosity toward helping the Blazers reach unprecedented postseason heights.
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