Portland Trail Blazers – It’s Dame Time Again In The Rose City

July 18, 2025 Casey Mabbott Portland Trail Blazers 0

The Portland Trail Blazers found a way to bring Damian Lillard home.

When the parting of the ways happened, regardless of which version of the story you heard first, we knew it was the right move for both parties, but that doesn’t mean it felt right. Seeing a generational player leave town in exchange for what felt like a reasonable deal (it wasn’t) just stung, and it didn’t stop stinging as his new team was one of the best in the league. At the same time, Portland found new and interesting ways to sink to the bottom of the Western Conference.

The close of the 2025 season was a beacon of hope, even if it wasn’t exactly the beacons of Minas Tirith, but it was nice to see the team playing hard and challenging some really good competition. A winning season was not in the cards, and neither was a spot as a play-in team for the playoffs. That would mark the 4th time in head coach Chauncey Billups’ career (he has only been here for four seasons, for those keeping score), and the goal is to get over the hump next year with a winning record and ideally a spot in the playoffs.

The last time a generational talent returned to their original team in the Northwest after leaving for a team across the country was Ken Griffey Jr., who left for Cincinnati in 2000 and returned in 2009, with his prime years in the rearview mirror. The Kid was still able to draw a crowd, even though his wheels were gone and he didn’t have the same energy in his swing as he once did. Still, plenty of fans flocked to see him in person anyway and were happy to pay full price to get a chance to watch him and his iconic batting stance take a crack at opposing pitchers again. He hit only 21 home runs in his final two seasons in Seattle and stole zero bases, appearing in 150 games while often limping. However, it was great to see #24 back in a Mariners uniform one last time.

I doubt averaging 11 home runs over two seasons and dwindling attendance in the heart of the recession was what Seattle had in mind (or missing the playoffs both years) when they agreed to bring Griffey Jr home. Still, sometimes fan service is in the best interest of the team even if it doesn’t pay short-term dividends.

The Portland Trail Blazers are setting the table for a similar move, and it couldn’t come at a better time. With the team available for sale for the first time since the 1987 season, potential owners are going to want to see a reason to invest beyond a stadium approaching its 30th birthday this October, and a coach with a career losing record and no playoff berths with one of the youngest teams in the league doesn’t look sizzling on paper.

However, the return of one of the most celebrated and decorated superstars in team history will have numerous effects, and one factor that could immediately improve would be to reverse the declining attendance and public interest in the team.

A reunion between Dame Time and the Rose City could pay off well for both sides, potentially enticing an interested buyer or making someone who wasn’t previously looking want to get involved.

Portland was 19th in attendance in 2025, after ranking 13th in 2024. Those aren’t terrible numbers, but the dip in attendance this season, coupled with an improvement on the court and in the win column, will be a likely red flag for potential buyers, especially when they consider the cost of putting a new stadium on the ground. An investment of that magnitude will require the promise of cash from customers, and that doesn’t work for a team slipping into the bottom third of the league in fan support.

But a return of their beloved hero will undoubtedly boost sales. I don’t think that was the primary reason anyone in the front office made this decision; it was likely more due to Dame making it known he wanted to rehab his injured achilles in Portland, where his kids live, and having a team he is familiar with and can help provide leadership for certainly doesn’t hurt.

If this is another Griffey situation, I won’t fault Dame or Portland for wanting a reunion tour, but there is also a chance the team takes another leap forward this season and is ready to fight for a playoff spot right around the time Dame gets healthy. There are certainly worse things than having Logo Lillard coming off the bench in the clutch or to terrify the other team’s second unit when you need a quick run to rest the starters. This could be the Mr. Big Shot or Big Shot Rob this team needs, and when he’s fully healthy, he can play either guard spot and be one of the few guys on the roster who can create their own shot.

It’s really a win-win situation, and I’m glad for Portland, for Dame, and for the fans; they were able to make it happen. You don’t often get to see happy reunions in sports, and I am thrilled to see it worked out this time. And the Bucks get stuck with the check for Lillard’s previous contract, it’s hard not to love that part.

Thanks for the memories, Mr. Lillard, and I’m glad you’ll be here to hopefully create many more.

Welcome home, and welcome back Dame Time!

About Casey Mabbott 272 Articles

Casey Mabbott is a writer and podcast host born and raised in West Philadelphia where he spent most of his days on the basketball court perfecting his million dollar jumpshot. Wait, no, that’s all wrong. Casey has spent his entire life here in the Pacific NorthWest other than his one year stint as mayor of Hill Valley in an alternate reality 1985. He’s never been to Philadelphia, and his closest friends will tell you that his jumpshot is the farthest thing from being worth a million bucks. Casey enjoys all sports and covering them with written words or spoken rants. He has made an art of movie references, and is a devout follower of 80's movies and music. I don't know why you would to, but you can probably find him on the street corner waiting for the trolley to take him to the stadium or his favorite pub, where he will be telling people the answers to questions they don’t remember asking. And it only goes downhill from there if he drinks. He’s a real treat.