{"id":158091,"date":"2025-09-13T10:00:42","date_gmt":"2025-09-13T14:00:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=158091"},"modified":"2025-09-12T19:10:23","modified_gmt":"2025-09-12T23:10:23","slug":"damian-lillard-still-matters-as-the-trail-blazers-cheerleader","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/09\/13\/damian-lillard-still-matters-as-the-trail-blazers-cheerleader\/","title":{"rendered":"Damian Lillard Still Matters As The Trail Blazers’ Cheerleader"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Portland Trail Blazers have a pretty expensive assistant coach on their bench. Franchise icon Damian Lillard<\/a> is the Blazers’ cheerleader ahead of the 2025-26 season. He will serve as Portland’s veteran and Chauncey Billups’ assistant coach.<\/p>\n

Damian Lillard Still Matters As The Trail Blazers’ Cheerleader<\/h2>\n

The Portland Trail Blazers enter the 2025-26 season with a familiar yet young roster. Headlined by names like Shaedon Sharpe<\/a> and Deni Avdija<\/a>, the Blazers are still a fresh team. They want to compete at the highest level, but it will be challenging to do so in the Western Conference.<\/p>\n

The team lacks the true superstar to build around. Every top team has one, who is usually an MVP candidate or at least an All-NBA-level player. From 2012 to 2023, Damian Lillard filled that role. He requested a trade after he fell out with the front office in 2023.<\/p>\n

Portland’s fans are excited about Lillard’s return<\/a> and his role as Portland’s veteran. However, that won’t be until the 2026-27 season. For now, he is a fixture in a bench role as Chauncey Billups’ assistant with a rather expensive contract.<\/p>\n

Being the Blazers’ Cheerleader Is An Underrated Role<\/h3>\n

The Trail Blazers are an interesting team ahead of the 2025-26 season. They are a talented bunch, but their best trait is their strong defense.<\/p>\n

Portland’s defensive ace Toumani Camara<\/a> earned an All-Defensive Second Team nod last season. The rest of the team can play at that level, especially Donovan Clingan<\/a>. The young center could be the franchise’s top big man, and he has the potential to shine as the starter.<\/p>\n

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How does Toumani Camara defend so many different archetypes of players?? Trae Young, Lebron, Jokic…<\/p>\n

He changes his defense to fit the matchup.<\/p>\n

Against smaller guards, he likes to pressure \u2014 using his length to disrupt vision and recover if beaten.
Against stronger wings, he\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/ZnoBo2xlZJ<\/a><\/p>\n

— Mike Jagacki (@Mike_Jagacki) August 16, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n