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Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard turned 30 on Wednesday. He spent the occasion inside the NBA “bubble” in Orlando, Florida preparing for the season restart in two weeks, quarantined along with the rest of the league because of COVID-19 concerns. Teammates and friends made sure the occasion was special despite the circumstances. Their celebration was trumpeted across Twitter as an example of touching camaraderie.
blazers sing @Dame_Lillard happy birthday
— NBA Bubble Life (@NBABubbleLife) July 16, 2020
he’s got 1 ask: pic.twitter.com/WdWThVaKdg
The most prominent example came via this video, in which teammates regaled him with song. Lillard asked for a single birthday wish, that they “not waste their [NSFW word] time out here”. Both event and sentiment were covered by several local media members, most of whom marked Lillard’s sentiment as an example of leadership.
Backcourt mate CJ McCollum was one of the prime conspirators in planning the celebration, clearing the festivities with the league and sleuthing out Lillard’s favorite foods from family sources.
CJ McCollum said he reached out to the league before the bubble about setting up a plan for Dame’s 30th birthday and was able to get Dame’s preferred food (lemon pepper wings) and drink as well.
— Paolo Uggetti (@PaoloUggetti) July 16, 2020
A little more on this wholesomeness: CJ said they consulted with Dame’s fiancee Kay’La to see what foods he liked, so this was the spread: pic.twitter.com/3GSEBQnqJS
— Paolo Uggetti (@PaoloUggetti) July 17, 2020
@CJMcCollum decorated his backcourt partner @Dame_Lillard’s door for his 30th birthday! pic.twitter.com/AuvSgNhQzj
— NBA (@NBA) July 15, 2020
Not content to rest on basketball laurels, Lillard also dropped a new track this week, which by all accounts is well worth checking out.
.@Dame_Lillard celebrates his birthday with 'Home Team' https://t.co/iPPe0QTLcZ pic.twitter.com/OzQxHTdQCZ
— UPROXX Music (@uproxxmusic) July 17, 2020
Long story short, Damian Lillard does nothing small. Even in isolation, removed from the rest of the world, he manages to stand out.