Damian Lillard denies reports of growing frustration with Blazers

Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard laughed off reports that he is growing frustrated with head coach Chauncey Billups.

For years, there have been rumors surrounding Damian Lillard’s future in Portland.

Lillard has adamantly reassured Trail Blazer fans that he isn’t going anywhere, but that hasn’t stopped the rumor mill from churning out new reports in the wake of Trail Blazers general manager Neil Olshey’s dismissal.

The Athletic’s Shams Charania and Sam Amick released an in-depth report focusing on how Olshey’s ousting affects the future of Lillard, who is considered to be the cornerstone of the struggling Trail Blazers franchise.

According to the report, Lillard had two major concerns in the offseason that were not addressed: he wanted Jason Kidd for a head coach, and he wanted to make roster changes that would propel the team to the playoffs. Instead, former NBA player Chauncey Billups was chosen, and no major roster changes were made.

The changes Olshey made have resulted in little thus far. The Blazers are 30th in defensive rating, and source indicated that “Lillard has grown frustrated with the team’s play and tension appears to be on the rise between the players and Billups.”

According to Lillard himself, none of this is true.

Damian Lillard denies report that claims he is frustrated with Trail Blazers leadership

Even if Lillard maintains that journalists love drama, the reality is that the Trail Blazers’ 2021-22 season hasn’t gone as planned so far, which resulted in the mid-season firing of Olshey. Olshey was fired as a result of an investigation that deemed he created a toxic workplace environment through bullying and intimidation.

It’s been a year of substantial turnover for the Trail Blazers, who also moved on from president and CEO Chris McGowan in addition to the firing of former head coach Terry Stotts.

If anything, the report represents the tumultuous nature of the Trail Blazers organization, with questions surrounding its biggest star. As always, Lillard remains the cornerstone for Portland, refusing to recognize suggestions that he has finally had enough of Portland’s treatment.