Transcript: Blazers G Damian Lillard Interviewed On ESPN's SportsCenter

Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard was interviewed on ESPN's SportsCenter on Wednesday morning.

Here's a transcript.

Why have you had so much early success?

I think you've got to give a lot of credit to my coaches at Weber State. They really prepared me well over the four years there. Each season they really pushed me to improve. I made leaps every year, I made a leap, I got better. They put the confidence in me. I really felt like I worked hard this summer to put myself in a position to be successful this season.

My teammates here accepted me, embraced me and they let me play my game. They just encourage me. When you have teammates that encourage you as a rookie, and welcome you with open arms, it makes everything a lot easier.

Who do you emulate?

I don't really look to anybody. But I think like Russell Westbrook, Derrick Rose, Kyrie Irving, the scoring point guards who are also really good playmakers. You see how successful they've been playing that way. I think I'm a similar point guard to them. I see how they approach the game, see what they bring to the table for their team and I try to do the same for mine.

Skills Challenge win

It was a lot of fun. You grow up being such a fan of All-Star Weekend. Not only am I blessed to be in the NBA but I get to be a part of an event and win one. I was excited about it. I'm just happy I could go there and represent my team, my family and my city well.

Fear of historic statues

I think it's just a fear that I've grown up with. The historic people, Jesus, stuff like that, just the fact that they were really here a long time ago and we're so familiar with them now and it was so long ago. It bothers me. Especially when it was an environment in the wax museum when they were all in the same room. It looked so close to them. The music they were playing. I felt a lot of tension in the room.

Would you be OK if Weber State makes a statue of you?

I'd be perfectly fine with it. I don't have a problem with that. A normal person like myself, I wouldn't have any issues of looking at a statue of myself.

Lillard was also interviewed on the Jim Rome Show earlier this month.

-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter