Damian Lillard explains why he’s wearing No. 6 jersey for Team USA

Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard will wear a new number for Team USA at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

As the 2020-21 NBA season draws near its end, the start of Olympic basketball is right around the corner. Among the stars on Team USA is Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard, who we’re accustomed to seeing wear No. 0. He recently opted to go with a different digit this summer.

The sixes are wild for Lillard. Could that mean he gets traded to the Sixers? It’s probably wishful thinking for Philly fans, but it would be a scary coincidence.

Damian Lillard explains his new number for Team USA Basketball

Lillard has been in the center of NBA trade rumors over the past month, with many speculating that he wants out of Portland. Contrary to those beliefs, Lillard has made it clear he has no interest in spreading any rumors of that sort.

"“Anything that I have to say, I’m going to say directly to [Blazers general manager] Neil [Olshey] and I’m going to address it directly with my team,” Lillard said after the third day of Team USA training camp in Las Vegas. “There’s really nothing else I have to say about it.”"

Among the reported reasons for Lillard wanting out was the failure by the organization to properly build a championship contender, along with the recent hiring of new head coach Chauncey Billups. Lillard explained it wasn’t true, and simply “words being put in [his] mouth”.

In his nine-year career with the Trail Blazers, Lillard has reached the postseason eight times and gotten past the first round three times. Lillard and Portland reached the Western Conference Finals in 2019, where they were swept by the Golden State Warriors.

This past season saw Portland finish with a 42-30 record as the Blazers exited the first round in six games to the Denver Nuggets.

At some point, the Trail Blazers will have to consider shaking things up. The coaching change was the beginning of that, but now it’s time to put the right pieces around Lillard to build a contender. If not, he could change his mind about wanting to play elsewhere, and maybe he’ll decide to keep the No. 6 with him on his way out.