Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard will play his first game back in Portland on Wednesday (10 p.m. EST on ESPN).
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Lillard spent the first 11 years of his career with the Portland Trail Blazers prior to being traded to the Bucks last September. He’s the franchise leader in points with 19,376 and 3-point field goals made with 2,387. He averaged fewer than 20 points per game in one season with the Trail Blazers.
He thanked the Portland fans in a rap song released after he was traded, but the fans haven’t been able to thank him in person yet. However, it’s likely that Lillard will receive a hero’s welcome.
Here’s a look back at notable happy returns for stars across multiple sports.
NBA
Michael Jordan, 2002
Game stats: 16 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks
Game result: Washington Wizards win 77-69
Three seasons after his second retirement from the Chicago Bulls, Jordan made his return to the NBA in 2001, signing with the Wizards. His first game back to Chicago included an emotional tribute.
Jordan struggled from the field on 7-of-21 shooting and had nine turnovers in the Wizards’ 77-69 win. He acknowledged the challenges of playing in front of his former home crowd.
In his words: “I had a tough time playing against Chicago. It’s like playing a relative, in a sense. It’s not as intense, you’re not quite as motivated.”
LeBron James, 2018
Game stats: 32 points, 14 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 block
Game result: Los Angeles Lakers win 109-105
Eight years after a raucous return to Cleveland while playing for the Miami Heat, James had a completely different experience when he faced the Cleveland Cavaliers for the first time as a member of the Lakers.
The crowd roared when his name was called last during player introductions, and a tribute video left James emotional. He thanked each side of the arena.
In his words: “I appreciate these fans, just as much as they appreciate me … So that was just my salute to them for them appreciating what I was able to…
Source link : https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/39424527/notable-athlete-happy-returns-old-teams-nba-nfl-mlb-nhl-wnba
Author : ESPN staff
Publish date : 2024-01-31 15:08:06
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