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In a series of tweets on Tuesday, former Trail Blazer and Phoenix Suns head coach Earl Watson said that Damian Lillard called him the summer Lillard signed his supermax extension, claiming the star point guard was approached about joining a super team.
Since @Dame_Lillard won’t say it, I will! Before Dame’s last extension he was approached to join a super team! He immediately called me & I’m assuming it’s because he respects me! I asked him, “what do you want to do”?! Cont...
— Earl J Watson (@Earl_Watson) August 11, 2020
Watson said that Lillard — who signed a four-year $196 million dollar supermax last summer — called the former NBA veteran about being approached. When Watson asked Lillard what he wanted to do, Lillard minced no words.
He didn’t waste a second before he responded, “Big EJ, I want to stay in Portland, build it with my teammates & beat every mf super team”! My response was, “Real ones do things others are afraid to endure”! Cont...
— Earl J Watson (@Earl_Watson) August 11, 2020
Watson — who played in Portland during the 2013-14 season — said that decisions like this show Lillard’s character.
Lastly, whether he does it this season or next whenever... Thank you for pissing off the wrong one! @Dame_Lillard feeds on the doubters, haters, attention seeking whatever! True Oakland & True Warrior! Portland has a Real 0ne! ✊ #familia
— Earl J Watson (@Earl_Watson) August 11, 2020
Watson also touched on how Lillard’s story relates to Devin Booker in terms of the analytical approach to basketball and more. You can read all the tweets here.