Damian Lillard hasn’t played an NBA game since April of 2025, but he’s still finding ways to make noise - and lately, it’s been with his fingers instead of his jumper.
The Portland Trail Blazers already knew they were signing up for a complicated mix when they brought in former Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant. Morant has his own reputation to manage and has already made it clear he wants to push back against the “bad guy” label that has followed him around. But if the Blazers are looking for the player most likely to stir things up this season, Lillard may be the one with the sharper edge.
That became obvious in his latest run-in with a fan on X. The exchange started after a video surfaced of his former teammate Giannis Antetokounmpo and Miami point guard Davion Mitchell working out together in Greece. A Heat fan took a shot at Lillard, posting, "Davion doing what Dame wouldn't even do."
Lillard didn’t let it slide.
"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.
That response says plenty about where his head is right now. Whatever happened in Milwaukee clearly still lingers, and a casual jab from a fan was enough to draw a sharp counterpunch.
Lillard has always carried himself with a chip on his shoulder, dating back to his days in Oakland when he got little to no collegiate interest. This version of him feels even more loaded.
At 36, and with no game action since April of 2025, Lillard enters 2026-27 with something to prove and no interest in letting people forget it. If anyone decides to poke at him, he doesn’t seem inclined to take the high road.
That’s part of what makes this Blazers setup so intriguing. Portland has built around him with workable pieces, and Morant’s arrival gives the team a backcourt that could be dangerous in a hurry. Add in the roster’s mix of size, athleticism, and defensive ability, and there’s real potential for something more than just a feel-good reunion.
If Lillard channels all that frustration in the right direction, Portland could end up with a version of him that’s as motivated as he’s ever been.
In Other News...
Yang Hansen Faces Growing Pressure In Crucial Second Season With Blazers
Yang Hansens second season with the Trail Blazers is already carrying more weight than a typical year-two jump. The 7-footer has been open about the pressure he feels from back home in China, where expectations for his growth have only intensified, and he has not shied away from the criticism that has followed him. Rather than letting it linger, Yang says he is trying to turn it into fuel as he works to show Portland he belongs in a bigger role.
His summer has offered some signs of progress, too, with Yang pointing to better conditioning and a stronger overall feel for the game as he tries to build on his early NBA experience. He also sounds encouraged by the new setup around him, from Micah Noris arrival on the bench to the chance to share the floor with Damian Lillard. What remains unresolved is the bigger question hanging over his season: whether all of that work is enough to keep him in Portland for good after bouncing between the Blazers and the G League Remix a year ago. [Read more 🡒]
Blazers Still Have One Obvious Answer To Their Wing Problem
Portlands wing depth has been thinned out enough that the front office has a pretty clear roster problem to solve. With Matisse Thybulle gone and other departures piling up around the forward spots, the Trail Blazers are left searching for someone who can defend, move around the lineup and hold up on the perimeter without forcing the rest of the rotation into awkward roles.
Bruce Brown Jr. stands out as the most obvious free-agent name still on the board. The former NBA champion brings the kind of versatility Portland can use, even if there are questions about whether his build is the perfect answer for a team that may need more help at forward than at wing. For now, the alternatives at power forward do not look especially appealing, which is why Brown remains the cleanest fit to keep in mind. [Read more 🡒]
Blazers Fans Are Watching Another Piece Of Rip City Disappear
The broadcast side of the Trail Blazers is going through a major reset just as the franchise has tried to reintroduce itself to fans through Rip City Television Network and a return to free over-the-air TV. Those moves were supposed to give the team a more direct connection with the market, but instead they now sit alongside a broader wave of change inside the organization during the early months of Tom Dundons ownership.
It is another reminder that the business of basketball in Portland is being reshaped well beyond the roster. Layoffs and restructuring have already altered the feel around the franchise, and the latest turnover leaves the teams TV future looking unsettled at a time when continuity in the booth would have mattered. For a fan base that has long treated the broadcast crew as part of the Rip City identity, the next chapter is still taking shape. [Read more 🡒]