NBA All-Star Damian Lillard Aspires to be ‘A More Humble Servant of God’
By Movieguide® Contributor
Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard put on a show at this year’s NBA All-Star weekend, winning the three-point contest and sinking the game-winner at the All-Star game.
In his 11th season in the NBA and an already stellar career, Lillard is set for his best year yet. The star is on track for a new high in points per game and field goal percentage.
However, his team has had a down year, posting a 28-30 record, placing them outside the Western Conference playoff picture. Barring a massive upturn in their season, the Trail Blazers will miss the playoffs for two consecutive seasons, a first since Lillard joined the team in 2012.
While missing the playoffs multiple years in a row would have been devastating for Lillard at one point, he understands that there is more to life than basketball.
After a season of injuries, Lillard revealed in an interview with The Athletic during the 2019-2020 playoffs that he had encountered God the previous summer, and faith had given him the strength to persevere.
“It’s ironic that this season has been this type of season,” Lillard said in December 2019. “I think in the past, it would have been more frustrating. I mean, it’s been frustrating, but I think it would have been more frustrating had I not been moving in this direction. Because when you get into it, you start to see signs, begin to see it like you do in the Word. Like, this is a test.”
Since then, Lillard has been unashamed of his faith, often sporting clothes from faith-based apparel companies and tattooing Psalm 37:1-3 on his left arm. Teammates have also told stories about finding Lillard reading on the Bible app.
Lillard also makes it a point to change his physical posture to show where his heart is at.
“I started actually getting on my knees [to pray],” he said. “Usually, you tell people all the time, ‘I pray for you’ or you send prayers and all that stuff, and people don’t actually pray. I’m on my knees, just to let my posture show the true posture of my heart, because I’m really thankful.”
Since he grew up in the church, faith wasn’t a new idea for Lillard, but he had lost focus on it as he became more serious about basketball.
On reflection, Lillard realized the immense blessings he has received, such as a healthy son or an impressive NBA career, came from God, not himself.
“I needed to have a better understanding of that and understand that this favor on my life isn’t because I’m so great,” Lillard said. “So I’ve just been trying to be closer to that. It’s not some major, major change and going to church on Sundays; it’s just being in the Word and being a more humble servant of God.”
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