"F that ring chasing, I'm going back where the love is" - Patrick Beverley praises Damian Lillard's decision to finish his career in Portland
When the Milwaukee Bucks waived Damian Lillard, most agreed that Dame would take the rest of the year off to heal from his ACL injury and then sign with a contender that would give him the best chance of winning that elusive NBA title.
However, in an unexpected plot twist, Lillard wasted no time and agreed on a three-year $42 million deal to return to where it all started, the Portland Trail Blazers.
But with the Trail Blazers not expected to be contenders next season and in the immediate future, Lillard is essentially giving up on his dream of winning an NBA championship by choosing to come back home.
To some, Lillard's move was foolish. But for former NBA player Patrick Beverley, there's nothing wrong with following one's heart, even if that means letting go of personal ambitions.
Not everything that glitters is gold
Lillard was the Blazers' sixth overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft and became the franchise's most beloved superstar. After winning Rookie of the Year honors in 2013, Lillard went on to earn eight All-Star and seven All-NBA team selections as a Blazer. Dame is also Portland's all-time scoring leader with 19,376 points and 2,387 3-pointers made.
But the Blazers won only four total playoff series during Lillard's watch, including a trip to the Western Conference Finals in 2019. With Lillard wanting an opportunity to win a championship and the Blazers looking to develop young talent, they agreed to part ways in 2023 by sending Dame to the Milwaukee Bucks, where he got the chance to contend with a team that won it all in 2021.
However, injuries plagued the Bucks during Lillard's two seasons there. This past campaign, he suffered an ACL tear in the opening round of the playoffs and was waived by the Bucks via the stretch provision. Because the Bucks would be paying every cent of Lillard's remaining contract, the so-called experts said it was going to be easy for him to join a contending team, with money not an issue. But Lillard proved on Thursday that not everything that glitters is gold.Finishing his career where it all began
Although Lillard left Portland in 2023, it was a mutual decision to part ways and did not have an ounce of animosity involved. Even though he was with the Bucks, the love and respect from Portland fans did not go away, nor did Dame's affection towards them. Last year, he even hinted at the possibility of finishing his career with the Blazers. Now that has become a reality because at 35, this is the tail end of his NBA career.
"Him going back feels like a big win. I respect pro athletes' relentless desire to win a title, and *I'm in no way saying that shouldn't be the goal* BUT pretending that is the only thing is just flat-out ignoring part of the experience. When you catch the special lightning in a bottle that guys like Steph, Kobe, Dame have/had with their team's fans, it's not nothing. In fact, once you have it, it may end up being the most important thing of all," wrote FS1's Rachel Nichols on "X."
Winning a championship ring is every player's dream. But it's not everything. Dame gave it a shot in Milwaukee, but it didn't work out. Now, it's time to start playing basketball again, not for the ring, but for the fans and the city that helped him define his legacy. As Beverley said, "F-–k ring chasing."This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


USA Today
25 minutes ago
- USA Today
Puka Nacua explains why he's deferred to Davante Adams as Rams' leader in WR drills
Nacua praised Adams' veteran presence and explained why he asked the All-Pro to take the lead during drills Just days into the start of Los Angeles Rams training camp, Puka Nacua is already embracing the presence and leadership of his All-Pro teammate Devante Adams. Right from the start, Adams isn't just participating; he's influencing everything that comes to mind, from drills to pacing to leadership, similar to the way Cooper Kupp did. While the Rams will look for their young star wideout to embrace more of a leadership role in Year 3 himself, Nacua didn't hesitate one bit when he asked Adams to take the lead in position drills, signaling the respect that the future Hall of Famer has earned over his 11-year career. 'I've asked Davante to lead our position group, to lead our position group drills,' Nacua said. 'There is a respect for him to come in saying, 'I don't want to push you out of the way or take your spot and be like, oh, I should be up there number one.' But it's something that I have a huge amount of respect for his game and I'm blessed to be around great people like Coop and Davante.' While in the presence of a route-running wizard, Nacua – who has also showcased himself as one of the league's best route runners over his first two seasons – has continued to play as a student of the game and watching Adams up close during live reps is having a great impact. "When I was in the front, I'm trying to sprint as fast as I can so I can turn around and watch him,' Nacua added. "So, I was like, 'Hey, I think it'll make my job a little bit easier if you just go first.' Today I was right there in the back and I'm just standing like this because I'm going to watch the tape again, but I'm like, there's nothing better than seeing him with my own two eyes." The Rams signed Adams in March to help fill the void left by Kupp, who joined the division-rival Seahawks and will face his former team twice this season. Adams' arrival not only adds a proven playmaker to the offense but also continues the mentorship pipeline for the rising star Nacua. His eagerness to learn and willingness to defer to the 32-year-old veteran speak volumes about the leadership presence Adams brings to the Rams' wide receiver room. Follow Rams Wire on X, Facebook and Threads for more coverage!


USA Today
25 minutes ago
- USA Today
Indiana Fever release statement updating Caitlin Clark injury status
The Indiana Fever provided an important injury update for their star point guard on Thursday. Caitlin Clark has missed the last two regular-season games and the All-Star game with a right groin injury. It's the third different soft tissue injury Clark has dealt with this season, leading to her being in and out of the lineup all year long. Clark has already been ruled out for Thursday night's game against the Las Vegas Aces, and the Fever provided an update on her injury and recovery process on Thursday. In a statement released on X, the Fever put out a highly-anticipated update on Clark's injury and the additional testing that happened earlier this week. "Caitlin Clark underwent further medical evaluations earlier this week, which confirmed that no additional injuries or damage were discovered. Clark will continue working with the medical team on her recovery and rehabilitation, with the priority on her long-term health and well-being. There is no timetable available for her return," the Fever's statement read. It's good and bad news for the star guard. It's great that the testing from earlier this week found no additional injuries. Now, the Fever and Clark know they're just dealing with that right groin injury and can put together a treatment and recovery plan based on that. The bad news is that there is still no timetable for Clark's return as of now. While this isn't surprising news, as that treatment plan is probably still being worked on, it's unfortunate for the rest of the team and the fans that Clark's return timeline is still up in the air. The most important thing for Clark and the Fever is her long-term health, as mentioned in the statement released by the team. If keeping her out of game action for a while ensures she fully recovers, then that's the right move for all parties. In the meantime, the Fever will have to find ways to win games without their point guard, which has proved to be a challenge this season. They're 4-7 without Clark this season, including the Commissioner's Cup final, and they're 9-5 with her playing. Indiana (12-12) continues their season on Thursday when they host the Las Vegas Aces (12-11). Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT on Amazon Prime Video. Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Zach on X: @zach_hiney
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Caitlin Clark still has no timetable for return following further medical evaluation this week
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark still has no time table to return, the team said Thursday following further medical tests this week. No further injuries were discovered during this week's evaluations. Clark has missed three games — including last weekend's WNBA All-Star Game in Indianapolis — since injuring her right groin July 15 against the Connecticut Sun. She traveled with her team to New York for their loss to the Liberty on Tuesday night. The Fever said Clark is continuing to work with team medical staff on her recovery and rehabilitation. Clark's current injury is the latest in a string of difficulties for the Fever star, which has included a left groin injury and a left quad strain earlier in the season. ___ AP WNBA: