Damian Lillard is a star. He’s amazing. He does some unbelievable stuff on the court for the Portland Trail Blazers. But thanks to the crazy talent at guard in the Western Conference, Lillard is once again an All-Star snub.
Not surprisingly, Lillard has struggled with disappointment, having missed out on the last two All-Star votes in a row now.
“I’ve gotten frustrated just for the fact that it feels like I always got to be the fall guy and every other guy has been deserving,” Lillard said, per ESPN. “In the past, the thing has been, ‘All right, my team has been 10 games under .500 or not in the playoffs,’ but every year we’ve found a way to be in the postseason, and this year I think we’re in much better position than we have been in the past two seasons that I didn’t make it. I think I’ve gotten over the emotional part of it the last few times that I didn’t make it. Now I’m kind of like expecting it to go that way, but I feel like I should be there.”
That’s totally understandable, and clearly, Lillard is good enough to be an All-Star.
However, on Friday, Stephen A. Smith went a bit off the rails defending Lillard.
Smith said Lillard should demand a trade so that he can finally get the All-Star recognition he deserves.
Well, the social media staff of the Blazers saw this headline and had something to say in response.
Some people will say anything for attention. pic.twitter.com/pNiYmgw8UB
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) January 19, 2018
That’s pure gold.
As much as we’d all agree that Lillard does deserve a bit more love, taking it to the level of Stephen A. Smith here is just absurd. It’s pure sensationalist drivel — the hottest of hot takes. Which, if we’re being honest is pretty much what ESPN does best these days.