The Damian Lillard who sat down on Monday arrived in town, hoping to knock off the team he grew up worshiping. Oakland still runs though his veins -- he's a player who has a lifetime relationship with Oracle Arena.
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"I was with my brother and my dad and when we were walking out of the arena, I said, the next time I play here, I'm going to be in the NBA," Lillard remembers.
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That came true. He's now a bona fide NBA All-Star, former Rookie of the Year, making roughly $28 million a season.
He's en route to sharing a court with the two Curry brothers, head to head in a Western Conference final.
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When asked if he's looking forward to seeing that, Lillard said, "Not really. I think it's cool that brothers get to play in the Western Conference Final. I think that's a pretty cool story. Their parents are going to have to decide which team they want to take. But I am not looking forward to the match-up. It is our team versus their team."
As for Oakland and the arena and the Warriors playing there for so many years, Lilllard said, "It's a special ending. Hopefully it will end the right way."
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