Damian Lillard and Russell Westbrook have delivered some of the most intense point guard matchups in NBA history. While Lillard now shares a great deal of respect for Westbrook, it wasn’t always that way, especially during the early years of Lillard’s career with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
In a recent appearance on Jeff Teague’s ‘Club 520’ podcast, Lillard opened up about his early experiences facing Westbrook. The relentless approach from Westbrook was something that Lillard had to contend with every time they faced off.
“In my first five to six years, he was the bully. I remember when I was a rookie, and in my second year, he used to try to give me 50 every time,” Lillard said.
“He would be shooting on me so much, that [Kevin Durant] would be getting mad, like, ‘Pass the ball!’” he added.
Damian Lillard Reflects on Tough Battles Against the Warriors
Damian Lillard has faced many fierce rivals throughout his NBA career. However, one team that has consistently been a thorn in his side is the Golden State Warriors. Lillard won only one postseason game against the Warriors despite his best efforts.
During his recent appearance on the ‘Club 520’ podcast, the Bucks star opened up about his experiences facing the Warriors, particularly during the intense playoff battles. He recalled how quickly the tide could turn against the Warriors.
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“We’d be up nine, and there would be five minutes left in the third quarter; we go into the fourth quarter down eight. It happens fast. They hit one three; you hear the crowd; see everybody stand up,” Lillard said.
“You just looking around like, ‘Damn, it feels like we down 20.’ They come back and hit another one… That’s the only crowd I’ve played against at Oracle where we could be winning, and it felt like the game was slipping away,” he added.
The Warriors’ star duo, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, often catalyzed these momentum shifts. Nevertheless, Thompson recently made a move towards the Dallas Mavericks. The Bucks superstar can now have hope to get wins again against the Warriors if they meet in the upcoming season.
also Read: Damian Lillard Spills The Tea On Why Kyrie Irving Is The Toughest Opponent For A 1v1 Matchup In The NBA.
