“Dame Time has run out.”
After getting traded to the Bucks in a blockbuster deal on Wednesday, Damian Lillard shared a heartfelt message for Trail Blazers fans, bidding farewell to the city of Portland after 11 years.
The 33-year-old posted some lengthy messages on X, formerly Twitter, during which he addressed Rip City and thanked the fanbase for its unwavering support throughout his tenure with the franchise, before also extending his gratitude to various individuals within the organization.
“The moments on the basketball court as great as they have been, don’t even compare to the experience I’ve had with all of you,” Lillard wrote to Blazers fans. “The way you embraced me from day one gave me no choice but to reciprocate the love a thousand times and I don’t regret it one bit.”
RipCity Forever ❤️… Dame Time has run out 🫡 pic.twitter.com/Rnm8oT5qF7
— Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) September 28, 2023
“I must admit it does make me sad to see some people crossover and appear as my opposition in the wake of me asking to be traded without knowing the facts because I truly am one of you,” he added.
Lillard was drafted with the No. 6 pick in the 2012 NBA draft and has spent his entire career with the Blazers, prior to Wednesday’s trade to Milwaukee. He played in 769 games for the team and is the franchises’s all-time leading scorer.
Toward the end of his message, Lillard even hinted that he may one day return to Portland.
“I do believe a day will come where I put a Blazers uniform on again, and hopefully by then I’ll be forgiven for breaking your hearts along with my own.”
