Damian Lillard ☆ Follow

Starts 2 of 2 games · 2nd on POR in minutes · Core role

Situational splits: turn on Prediction tools.

Every situation, with four seasons of history →

• Podcast Locked On Blazers · 6 points · 16 h ago
  • Mike Richman: Ja Morant played just under 27 minutes and Damian Lillard about 32-33. Morant shot 5 of 13 (1 of 8 from three) and Lillard 7 of 18 (2 of 10 from three). at 18:06
  • Mike Richman: With 1:50 left, Jrue Holiday replaced Ja Morant. Portland played three possessions (two defensive, one offensive) with Lillard, Holiday, Camara, Avdija and Clingan. These were not offense-defense swaps. at 15:40
  • Mike Richman: Host opinion: Lillard-Holiday-Camara-Avdija-Clingan is "perhaps" the Blazers' best lineup. at 15:57
  • Jason Quick (The Athletic) (reported): Jason Quick of The Athletic reported that in the final 45 seconds Micah Nori used offense-defense subs, taking Lillard and Damian Lillard and Ja Morant off at stoppages for better defenders and putting them back in for offense. at 13:39
  • Mike Richman: Host analysis: Lillard and Morant are a dicey defensive pairing, and when neither is going on offense their defensive shortcomings matter. at 12:46
  • Mike Richman: The host implies the starters were Lillard, Morant, Camara, Avdija and Clingan and credits that group with winning the second half. at 25:09

  “Trail Blazers' 3rd Quarter Surge Enough to Down Kings | The Depth Delivers & Crunch Time Choices” · listen ↗

• Podcast Gil's Arena · 4 points · Oct 24
  • The Blazers opened at home Wednesday. It was Lillard's return after he missed all of last season recovering from an Achilles injury, and he is 36. at 29:24
  • Ja Morant made his Blazers debut after being traded by the Grizzlies this offseason. There was preseason talk of bringing him off the bench, but he and Lillard both started the opener. at 29:32
  • Lillard scored 25 points with six threes and six assists in only 24 minutes. Morant had 14 points, 8 assists and 3 steals on 6-of-8 shooting. at 30:35
  • Another panelist thinks the Blazers can make the guard group work as a committee. He says Lillard is now with players who can find him and can play off the ball more, and that Shaedon Sharpe averaged 20 last year. at 33:56

  “Sixers Erase A MASSIVE 29-Point Deficit, SGA Ends His Streak & Jaylen Brown Calls CAP On Tatum!_1 Part 2” · listen ↗

• Podcast The Athletic NBA Daily host · Report · Oct 24 around the league

  The Blazers' starting lineup with Damian Lillard and Morant went up 17-0 on the Suns in the first five minutes. Portland won 124-83 after leading by as much as 52.

  “Sixers Thrive + Jamal Murray down bad? | Slam N Jam” at 6:10 · listen ↗

  also reported by KG Certified host

• Podcast The Mismatch host · Report · Oct 23 around the league

  Damian Lillard returned from his Achilles injury, in his old uniform and in the town that loves him most. He scored 25 (17 in the first half) on 7-of-12 shooting and 6-of-10 from three.

  “The Return of Loves and Loathes. Plus: A Historic Thursday Night.” at 26:47 · listen ↗

• Podcast Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective · 2 points · Oct 23
  • Portland started Lillard and Ja Morant together, which had been a camp question, and opened 21-0 on the Suns. A host called the decision 'probably a coaching mistake' but driven by politics. at 39:47
  • Damian Lillard returned in Portland's home-opener win, his first game in about a year and a half, and hit six threes. Portland led the Suns 43-12 after the first quarter. at 39:09

  “Luka Gets Called Out As Lakers Dominate + Who Made A Game 1 Statement?” · listen ↗

• Podcast Zach Lowe, The Zach Lowe Show · Analysis · Oct 22 around the league

  Lowe doubts how far the Suns can go if Maluach and Ighodaro are the center pairing and play like this. He still has Phoenix as a play-in team. He also says Morant and Dame looked okay together for Portland.

  “Opening Night Overreactions, Alarming Trends, Hot Takes, and More!” at 47:46 · listen ↗

• Podcast The Athletic NBA Daily host · Rumor · Oct 23 around the league

  Host speculates that Lillard, coming off the Achilles injury, may have to 'nurse this a little bit' and may not play back-to-backs, while saying they are 'not sure how they're gonna treat it'.

  “The Thunder Are Inevitable + Philly Trusts the Process” at 28:18 · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Blazers · 2 points · Oct 23
  • Mike Richman: Host analysis: having several players who can create advantages off the dribble (Lillard, Morant, Avdija) means off-ball players get less attention. at 15:41
  • Mike Richman: Matchups: Lillard guarded "Dylan Brooks" and Morant guarded Jalen Green early. The host asks why the Suns did not test Morant with pick-and-rolls and expects future opponents may do so. at 18:18

  “Trail Blazers Were Spectacular in Game 1. What's Real & What's Noise After a Special Opening Night?” · listen ↗

• Podcast The Athletic NBA Daily · 2 points · Oct 22
  • Damian Lillard was back and scored 25 in 24 minutes, going 6-of-10 from three, as Portland routed Phoenix. at 14:09
  • Ja Morant is back. Portland started him alongside Lillard, and he had 14 points, eight rebounds, five assists, three steals and a game-high plus-33. at 14:43

  “Wolves Make a Big Statement in Miami + Luka’s Showtime Era Begins” · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Suns host · Opinion · Oct 22 around the league

  The host said Damian Lillard was the best player on the floor, at least in stretches.

  “EMBARRASSED: The Suns Get BLOWN Out By Blazers As Devin Booker And Miles Bridges FAIL To Show Up” at 17:05 · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On NBA · 2 points · Oct 22
  • Blazers beat the Suns 124-83 after starting 17-0 and leading 38-8 in the first quarter. The game was the debut of Ja Morant and the return of Damian Lillard. at 17:48
  • Gavin (inferred) had questions about Ja and Dame starting next to each other, but says the spacing was pristine. name not confirmed at 19:06

  “GAME NIGHT: Ant/LaMelo SHINE in Debut, Luka talks trash, Ty Jerome goes OFF” · listen ↗

• Story ESPN · Article · Oct 22

  Trail Blazers fans show love for Damian Lillard in return

  source ↗

  also reported by Mike Richman, Locked On Blazers, Mike Richman (reported), via Locked On Blazers

• Podcast Locked On Blazers · 5 points · Oct 22
  • Lillard did not play in the fourth quarter. The host gives no reason beyond the blowout context. at 9:34
  • The host says Lillard scored mostly on catch-and-shoot shots and looked comfortable off the ball, and that the plan is for him to shoot threes and use off-ball back screens while Morant drives and kicks. at 3:43
  • Ja Morant (reported): Morant said that before the game Lillard reminded him of what people think about them, and he declined to elaborate. He also said you only get one first impression and he wanted to set the tone. at 17:08
  • Damian Lillard (reported): Lillard, who has pledged to play this season with joy, said postgame that he accepted the crowd's love rather than playing with anger to prove doubters wrong. at 7:34
  • Open question: how often Lillard, Morant and Avdija ("Danny") share the floor. The host started tracking it but dropped it once the game became a blowout. at 27:17

  “Trail Blazers Scorch Suns in Season Opener | Damian Lillard's Return to Portland & Ja Morant's Debut” · listen ↗

• Story ESPN · Article · Oct 22

  Lillard returns with 25 points, Morant debuts and the Blazers rout the Suns 124-83

  source ↗

• X Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) · Report · Oct 21

  AVAILABLE: Deni Avdija (right ankle soreness) and Micah Potter (illness). Blazers starting lineup: Ja Morant Damian Lillard Deni Avdija Toumani Camara Donovan Clingan #RipCity

  original post ↗

  also reported by Mike Richman, Locked On Blazers

• X Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) · Report · Oct 21

  Haynes: Ja Morant will start alongside Damian Lillard to begin the regular season.

  original post ↗

  also reported by Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes), Locked On Blazers host

• Podcast The Athletic NBA Daily · 3 points · Oct 21
  • A reporter (reported; name unclear in the audio): After the preseason, Sean Hyken posted that the coach strongly hinted Ja and Dame would both start on opening night. This was a hint, not a confirmation. at 29:07
  • Host's opinion: if the Ja experiment fails there are no outs because of his contract. He also said Portland has a first-year coach with no guarantees beyond this season, and that this is Dame's first season back in Portland. at 30:45
  • The host will watch how many minutes Ja and Dame share in week one, and whether those lineups can survive defensively or find enough offense with Avdija. at 31:27

  “BIG NBA Questions: Slam N Jam LIVE!” · listen ↗

• Podcast Hardwood Knocks host · Analysis · Oct 21 around the league

  A host says Ja Morant and Damian Lillard are presumably starting and/or playing a lot of minutes together in Portland.

  “2026-27 NBA Awards Predictions AND Wild Card Picks” at 25:51 · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Blazers · 4 points · Oct 21
  • Mike Richman: The host expects Dylan Brooks to probably start out guarding Deni Avdija. He notes Avdija was too fast for Brooks last year. He asks who on the Suns guards Morant and Lillard. at 8:55
  • Mike Richman: The host does not expect the Blazers to trade Damian Lillard or Ja Morant, though he acknowledges trades are possible. at 20:04
  • Mike Richman: The host expects Damian Lillard and Ja Morant to play a fair amount, including some minutes together. He thinks the Blazers will be pretty bad defensively in those shared minutes. at 20:08
  • Mike Richman: The host thinks the Lillard– Jrue Holiday pairing is the Blazers' best mix of shooting and defense at guard. He says Scoot Henderson might grow into that role, and he doesn't think Morant will become a special shooter. at 28:13

  “Trail Blazers vs. Suns Season Opener Preview | Bold Predictions and The Disappearing Lineup Trick” · listen ↗

• Podcast Zach Lowe, The Zach Lowe Show · Analysis · Oct 19 around the league

  Zach is a little worried about the fit of Jalen Green in Phoenix. He is very worried about Morant in Portland, who is playing off the ball a lot. In one preseason game Morant passed up a soft-closeout three off a Lillard ('Dame') kick-out and drove into a wall.

  “Knicks Preview, Playoff Picks, Finals Predictions, and More!” at 42:20 · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Blazers · 3 points · Oct 19
  • Mike Richman: The offense came fairly easily. Damian Lillard got to the free-throw line, and Ja Morant hit outside jumpers and also got to the line. at 3:10
  • Mike Richman: The host predicts that with Lillard and Morant on the court the team will be worse on defense and probably much better on offense. at 5:51
  • Mike Richman: Micah Nori gave each available point guard a solo stretch without the other stars, alongside Vit Krejci, Toumani Camara, Sidy Cissoko and a center. That center was mostly Carlson with some Donovan Clingan. The solo guards were Scoot Henderson, Lillard and Morant. The host reads this as intentional experimentation. name not confirmed at 16:43

  “Trail Blazers Struggle in Preseason Finale vs Golden State Warriors | Portland Waives Jeremy Sochan” · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Blazers · 3 points · Oct 16
  • Mike Richman: The host says Scoot is not better than Ja Morant right now, but is comfortable off the ball, looks like a competent shooter, and can be disruptive on defense in a way Lillard and Morant cannot. at 13:52
  • The guest says Deni Avdija has more space around him this preseason. With Lillard, Scoot and Morant creating advantages, he can come off screens and go downhill instead of creating everything himself. His 27-28 dead-stop drives per game may drop, but they should get easier and he should get more open threes. at 21:55
  • The guest says a defense ranked around 14th-18th, or league-average defense in core lineups with Donovan Clingan on the floor or Ja Morant off it, should be the goal. at 28:41

  “Trail Blazers Outlook: Adding Ja Morant, Scoot Henderson's Upside, Deni Avdija's Ascension and More” · listen ↗

• Podcast Mike Richman, Locked On Blazers · Analysis · Oct 15

  The host says the additions of Damian Lillard and Ja Morant give Portland potentially significantly better offensive talent.

  “Travis Demers Named Trail Blazers TV Broadcaster | Jeremy Sochan Season Preview” at 17:31 · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Blazers · 11 points · Oct 14
  • Mike Richman: Portland changed its starting lineup against Sacramento: Scoot Henderson started in the backcourt with Damian Lillard, so Morant and Jrue Holiday were the two guards off the bench. at 4:12
  • Mike Richman: When Lillard and Deni Avdija share the floor, the host sees a clean your-turn/my-turn split. Avdija has the ball most of the time, and Lillard fits in around him. at 4:12
  • Mike Richman: Host thinks Lillard has moved well off the ball this preseason, setting back screens and getting himself open. at 4:41
  • Mike Richman: Host does not think Ja Morant has looked as comfortable in an off-ball role as Lillard or Avdija, who are better spot-up shooters, especially Lillard. at 11:51
  • Mike Richman: The host found a five-man group of Lillard, Jrue Holiday, Morant, Avdija and Robert Williams III the most compelling lineup of the game. He imagines Portland will use it more. at 16:33
  • Mike Richman: Lillard shot 3 of 8 from three against the Kings, including two in a row on back-to-back possessions. at 21:26
  • Mike Richman: Host says Lillard is opportunistic on a team that plays fast. He trails in transition for threes when Morant, Avdija or even Toumani Camara pushes the ball. at 22:13
  • Mike Richman: Host notes Lillard is 36 and coming off an Achilles injury, and says it seems unlikely he will become a fast end-to-end player. at 22:08
  • Mike Richman: After-timeout play: Lillard set a back screen for Toumani Camara, then came off a Clingan screen toward the right wing. The host thinks the play was designed to get Lillard a three, but Jrue Holiday hit Camara on an alley-oop dunk. at 25:08
  • Mike Richman: Host says Lillard has been clearly the two-guard and an off-ball player on offense more than he expected, and that maybe he did learn this. at 27:26
  • Mike Richman: Open question: whether Lillard will accept an off-ball team role in high-stakes moments, such as being down eight and needing a bucket. This has not been tested. at 27:11

  “What We Have (Not) Learned About Deni Avdija, Damian Lillard & Ja Morant in Trail Blazers Preseason” · listen ↗

• Podcast James Ham, Locked On Kings · Report · Oct 14 wording unclear in audio around the league

  Portland played all its starters and rotation players, including veterans Damian Lillard and Drew Holiday, plus Denny Avija and John Morant.

  “Kings continue to play with a DEPLETED ROSTER, will they be healthy in time for the season opener?” at 4:30 · listen ↗

Podcast items are our short summaries of what was said, credited to who said it; posts and stories link to the original. Opinions and rumors are labelled as such and are not checked facts.