A modern NBA legend walked away from the game Wednesday. After 18 seasons, Russell Westbrook is retiring, leaving behind a lasting legacy of energy, excitement, and triple-doubles.
It’s a sad day for fans who grew up watching Westbrook, and things get even sadder when you realize the end of the line is coming soon for other heroes of the 2010s who are entering the twilight of their careers, including Damian Lillard.
It’s a tough pill for Portland fans to swallow, but the greatest Trail Blazer ever likely only has three, maybe four, years left in the tank.
Westbrook’s decision is a stark reminder of Damian Lillard’s fast-approaching retirement
For years, Russell Westbrook and Damian Lillard went head-to-head as Western Conference rivals. They only faced each other in the playoffs one time (2019), but anytime they matched up in the regular season, it was must-see TV.
Those times feel like they were just yesterday, but the 2019 first-round series that saw Dame send OKC home with his iconic half-court buzzer beater was over seven years ago. Fast forward to the present, and Russ just retired at age 37, while Lillard is 36 and is about to tip off year 15 in the association.
Dame is without a doubt Portland’s GOAT. He’s given everything to the city and accomplished so much as a Blazer to the point where he and the team have become synonymous. He had the awkward fling with Milwaukee, but he remembered where home was and returned to Rip City last summer.
When it’s all said and done, Damian Lillard will be immortalized in a Blazers jersey. He has nothing left to prove to the city he’s rooted himself in. While fans will want to see him help this club compete deep in the postseason next season and beyond, they shouldn’t let themselves get too wrapped up in the heat of expectations when it comes to his performance. They must remember to sit back, look at the bigger picture, and just enjoy the Lillard experience while it’s still in front of them.
Enjoy Damian Lillard while he’s still playing
Dame thoroughly entertained Blazers fans for 11 years before the Milwaukee trade. Between his unbelievable game winners, fierce driving slams, and gorgeous high-arcing three-point bombs, he’s delivered so many highlights in a Portland uniform, and now that he’s back, he’s only going to continue to add to his reel.
But it’s possible he won’t look like his old self when he steps back on the floor post-Achilles injury. Memorable plays from Dame are as sure as rain, but as Westbrook’s retirement reminds us, the old guard of stars is starting to fade. It’s depressing, but true.
So, make sure to soak in every last bucket from Damian Lillard this year, next year, and hopefully the year after that. Time flies— don’t let it pass you by before you appreciate what’s in front of you.
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