Damian Lillard Receives Raucous Standing Ovation When Announced for Trail Blazers Return
Damian Lillard walked into the Moda Center on Wednesday night for the first time as a visiting player after he was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in September following 11 seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers.
As this was a highly anticipated return for Portland’s beloved former guard, the crowd was electric when Lillard’s name was announced among the rest of the Bucks’ starting lineup.
The crowd at the Moda Center gave Lillard a standing ovation that lasted around a full minute. Then, Lillard gave Trail Blazers fans something they missed: the “Dame Time” celebration.
He then used his hands to make a heart to the Trail Blazers fans.
Portland got love for Dame ❤️ pic.twitter.com/X2051R8BWN
— ESPN (@espn) February 1, 2024
Lillard only began using his “Dame Time” wrist tap celebration a couple weeks ago while with the Bucks. The move, of course, became iconic while he was playing for the Trail Blazers.
Before Wednesday night’s game, Lillard admitted to ESPN’s Jamal Collier that he always imagined that he would end his career in Portland. Based on the ovation before tip-off, it seems clear that the love between Lillard and Trail Blazers fans is still there.
