As Damian Lillard walked into Portland’s Moda Center on Wednesday evening for the first time as a member of the Milwaukee Bucks, he instinctually headed toward the home locker room.
That was the same route he’d taken for 11 years as a member of the Trail Blazers, and he would say later that he still doesn’t feel like a visitor returning to this city.
“I really didn’t know where to go,” Lillard said during a pregame news conference. “I’d never been in the visitors locker room until today.”
Wednesday marked Lillard’s first game in Portland since he was traded to Milwaukee in October. He was greeted with a one-minute standing ovation when his name was announced during pregame introductions.
The Blazers did their part to spoil the homecoming, however, hanging on for a 119-116 win over the Bucks, as Lillard finished with 25 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists.
Lillard arrived in Portland ahead of the Bucks after Monday’s game. He still has family here and said he was eager to sleep in his own bed and host a birthday party for his twins, Kali and Kalii.
The Blazers, who drafted Lillard with the No. 6 pick in 2012, welcomed him back with two tribute videos in the first quarter — one highlighting his on-court accomplishments and iconic moments, the other his impact off the court and in the Portland community.
Lillard got a call from Pelicans guard CJ McCollum, another former Blazer, on the way to shootaround Wednesday morning, telling him to embrace the emotions of the night.
Lillard did request a trade from Portland at the start of the summer, which he acknowledges led to contention between him and the organization before his exit. He said he still has not spoken to Blazers general manager Joe Cronin since the trade.
But Lillard said he still keeps tabs on the Blazers, mainly checking in on guard Anfernee Simons, who he considers like a brother.
However, Lillard did not look to this game for any kind of closure or catharsis.