The Greatest Blazer, Ever

How I believe, Damian Lillard, is the greatest Blazer, ever.

“Toru Oikawa was an unknown player who made his own way into the Argentinian National Men’s Volleyball Team”

“What?” I thought to myself as I read that line in the final chapters of one of my favorite Sport Manga. “An unknown player? He was THE Fearsome setter Karasuno had to go through to get to the national stage!” Then I remembered, Oikawa himself never made it to the nationals. In all his 3 years of high school career, there was a wall named Shiratorizawa that he never overcame.

In 50 years time, maybe there’s a sports journalist, or even a kid who’s trying to get some clout, who is making a list of the greatest athletes ever to don the Portland Trailblazers Jersey. That person may stumble upon the name of Damian Lillard, and look at his career achievement, put a number on that name, concoct some rationale, and move on to the next name on that list.

That person may look at some of Dame’s insane highlights, read the articles of his pursuits, study his numbers throughout his career, and ultimately summarizing that Dame is just another great athlete who came up short. His longest playoff run was only to reach the Western Conference Finals, and got swept (again) by Steph Curry’s Golden State Warriors.

He had never won a championship, and probably never will with the current set up. He only got as far the Conference Finals. Clyde had won it twice. Bill won the whole thing once. So how could Dame be the Greatest Blazer Ever?

It’s not about how he breaks records. It’s not about how clutch his performance are in crunch time. It’s not about how he keeps shooting 3s further and further. It’s not about Dame Time. Hell, it’s not about how he is probably the realest, most down to earth NBA superstar out there.

Dame’s life is about overcoming the odds. How he was born and raised just like every other kid in Oakland. Proving himself to his high school coach to earn minutes. Proving himself as someone who was only regarded a Two-Star Recruit. Proving himself yet again, as someone who was playing for a low-tiered school in a low-tiered conference. Proving himself, that he is good enough to lead a franchise in a disarray. Proving himself, that he is one of the top point guard in the NBA.

Lillard became a great player, because he believed. He believed in himself, in his hard work, in his team. And that attitude translated to his game. He played his game, he fights like there is no tomorrow. He believed that he can force himself into the game enough, to bring home the W. When the team is down by 20 entering the 4th quarter, he believed that the game still can be won. Even when his teammates seemed to calling it quits, he believed. You can see it in his face. His body language. His conviction.

On the start of the recent seasons of Dame’s career, you know, I always embrace it with positivity. Maybe that year will be our year. Maybe this time shit will happen to the other team, not ours. But it never came to that, and I made peace with the fact that the team has peaked and will go no further.

But on those game of Dame Time, seeing how Dame fights to the end, he too, made me believe that it was all possible. Like with some kind of magic, he made me believed that any deficit can be overcome. That any 3–0 or 3–1 lead can be erased. That championship was not out of reach. And nothing else matter. No matter what happens, no matter the result, even if Dame never got to overcome his wall after all said and done, he made me believe that it was all possible. He made me believe that he is, the greatest Blazer ever.