Dwyane Wade did not hold back on his thoughts on Damian Lillard re-joining the Portland Trail Blazers.
NBA Legend Dwyane Wade Makes Feelings on Damian Lillard Clear After His Career Decision originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Damian Lillard became an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his NBA career in 2025. After clearing waivers, multiple teams reached out to Lillard, but he decided to rejoin the Portland Trail Blazers on a new three-year deal.
Returning to the Trail Blazers may impact his chances of winning a championship. He likely won't play this coming season because he is currently recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon. Even when he returns next season, he will be 36 years old.
Even so, Lillard made quite a legacy for himself in Portland. He made seven All-Star teams and six All-NBA teams. He also guided them to eight consecutive playoff appearances, which included a run to the Western Conference Finals in 2019. Even though the two sides had a falling out in 2023, they've clearly let bygones be bygones.
However, even if Lillard doesn't finish his career with a title in Portland, NBA legend Dwyane Wade believes it shouldn't take away from his impact with the Trail Blazers. On his personal podcast, Wade explained why Lillard's legacy goes beyond titles.
"Dame's legacy in the NBA will be way bigger than a championship," Wade said. "And I think every player that comes through this league, legacy is not just built on winning a championship, and we gotta stop doping that. Yes, if you're one of the greatest, if you want to be in that Top 75, you want to be up there with the GOATs, yes, championships are a part of this game.
"But that doesn't mean every player that comes through that is great at this game has to walk away with a championship for their legacy to be stamped. And so Dame, to me, is one of those players that — if he never sniffs a championship — it doesn't change the fact that Dame is a bad (expletive). His legacy in Portland is stamped, and what he do from this point on is even more legacy building."
Dwyane Wade says Damian Lillard is a legend regardless of whether he wins a ring or not 🫡
— Wy Network by Dwyane Wade (@wynetwork) July 28, 2025
“Dame to me is one of those players that if he never sniffs a championship, it doesn’t change the fact that he’s a bad motherf****. His legacy in Portland is stamped.” pic.twitter.com/o02mqFy0Ln
Wade went on to win three NBA championships during his time with the Miami Heat. Even though he, too, left the team for two years, he ended his career in South Beach and became arguably the team's most iconic player in franchise history.
Related: Damian Lillard Turns Heads With Immediate Reaction to Blazers Signing
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: Basketball
