How Lillard’s random trash talk sparked Steph’s 62-point game originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Even some of the greatest shooters get it to them, and that’s exactly what happened eight-time NBA All-Star Damian Lillard during the 2020-21 NBA season.
And like many others around the league, it came to the hands of Warriors superstar Steph Curry.
Before joining Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee, Lillard spent the first 11 seasons of his career with the Portland Trail Blazers, which means at least three meetings with his hometown team in the Bay.
While Lillard’s returns are typically special, he explained on the “Get Got Pod with Marshawn Lynch & Mike Robinson” like one visit to San Francisco was to be forgotten.
“Like three years ago, it was after the Warriors had a bunch of injuries, and this was after they won their first couple championships and they struggled,” Lillard explained. “People were double-teaming Steph, triple-teaming Steph. We played them back-to-back times in San Francisco. So we played them the first time, and we beat them. We did the same to the other teams. [were doing] to Steph, we were double teamed, switching. And [the media] it was like, ‘Ma’am, teams are giving Steph a lot of attention. They make him dirty. They are physical with him.’
“And I was like, ‘Yeah, I know how he feels, because when my team was down, we were struggling, and they didn’t respect who I was on the court with at the time. They guarded me like this.’ And I was like, over the years, Steph played with a lot of vets, they knew how to get him the ball, they knew how to get him open, they knew how to play, I said, but now he’s seeing something different because it’s different now.”
But the way it was interpreted and relayed by the media was not the way Lillard meant it.
However, whether Curry knew it or not, he responded in the only way he knows how.
“And they took it and spun it like I said, ‘Now you see how it is, now he’s going to see if he can still do it.’ But really, I f–k with Steph, I would never say about Steph go play them again two days later and Steph comes out and he shoots. Obviously, I’m a competitor he’s going to try So he goes out and he shoots, shoots, and Steph is the type that he’s not going to announce, “I heard what you said,” or “You said that, you said that,” he just. is about to come out — he’s a real competitor.
“So he comes out and he hits 3 for 3 for 3. And my first thought is I don’t care. I didn’t mean it that way and I don’t care if you’re trying to make a statement because you thought. I meant it that way. He finished like 62. He ran celebrating. So after the game I shake his hand. [he] just got my ass.’ My comments weren’t even a shot at all, but I sure got that day.”
Hey, Lady, it happens to the best of them.
Lucky for him, he’s now on the East Coast and only has to face Curry in the Bay once a season. And by now, he’s probably learned to choose his words more carefully.
