Like everyone else, Damien Lillard saw a lot of adversity in his NBA career.
To be the superstar guard and one of the most prolific in the game, Damien Lillard met several important opponents throughout his run in the league.
He was an absolute competitor as his era was at the heart of the Portland Trail Blazers franchise.
While many view Stephen Curry, Patrick Beverly, Paul George and others as some of the most intense opponents he has ever faced in hardwoods, future Hall of Fame will always respect Russell Westbrook to discuss his great rival.
It is clear that over the years, Lillard and Westbrook share on-court hostility with each other.
The two were constantly locked when Lillard was still leading the Blazers. Every game they had was always prime time as Westbrook was at the forefront of his Oklahoma City Thunder team.
Lillard was already aware of Westbrook’s fierce and serious approach when he was a young man trying to carve his rookie in 2012.
“When we played, it felt like a personal feeling in my rookie year,” Lillard said of his rivalry with Westbrook.
“Like he really felt like he wanted to go to me.
“And I was always giving him resistance. Even from the newcomer years, I came out from there at 22, 25 and we went back and forth. They beat us. We beat them.
“But he’ll always go, go, go, come in.”
It was their only Best of Best of Cebu meeting, but Lillard and Westbrook saw the pinnacle of their basketball conflict six years ago when they faced off in the first round of the 2019 Western Conference playoffs.
From a lot of arguments, garbage talks, and each other’s passionate plays, both sides literally did it throughout the series. But in the end, Lillard got a final laugh when he sent Westbrook and OKC home by draining the 3-point dagger that holds the amazing series in Game 5.
“Then I spent a few years under the belt and it started to be a little different. It started to be a little different, just like I actually started to get his best,” Lillard said of his clash with Westbrook.
“I don’t say much. He’s more empirical like him. My personality is different to his personality, but the level of stubbornness is very similar.”
And interestingly, when Westbrook officially left the lightning, the two got cooler to each other.
“When we played for the first time and waved each other, he was on the Rocket…that’s my nine seasons.”
The various current meetings will once again require a meaningful final of Lillard and Westbrook showdowns.