ALL-STAR GAME: TEAM GIANNIS VS. TEAM LEBRON

February 19, 2023

Damian Lillard

Team Giannis

Press Conference

Team Giannis - 184, Team LeBron - 175

Q. (On his shooting range.)

DAMIAN LILLARD: It's a lifetime of work. I've been shooting deep since I was a kid. Even before I was a great shooter I could shoot the ball far with my form.

Then just a lot of reps, good coaching, training, being strong enough, being focused enough to get reps.

Q. Do you think that shooting from half court should count for more than three points?

DAMIAN LILLARD: I wouldn't mess with the game like that. I think the game -- the foundation of the game is what it is. I wouldn't change it.

Q. Every step of the way you've always had a vision of what you could be. You've always believed in yourself. Just from Ogden to all the places you've been, just tell me about the ride.

DAMIAN LILLARD: I mean, it's been a great ride. I think I've said it before. One thing that I struggle with is kind of appreciating some of the things that I've accomplished and experienced in the moment, and I get -- months or years down the line and I look back, and I'm, like, man, that was pretty cool.

So being here I've actually kind of thought back to the moments of being on campus and being in the dorms and just being, like, man, basketball don't work out, what am I actually going to do? When are NBA scouts going to start coming out?

I've been thinking back to those times. You forget once you started experiencing so much success and so many good times. You forget those humble beginnings. You don't forget that existed, you just forget how you felt in those moments when you just were uncertain.

When I think about that, I kind of look back -- I look at everything I've accomplished and everywhere I've been and what I've done, and I have a different level of appreciation for it.

Q. You won the 3-Point Contest and scored 26 points in the All-Star Game. How would you sum up the weekend?

DAMIAN LILLARD: Like I said, it was a great weekend being back here in Utah, being a part of the All-Star Game, having fun playing in the All-Star Game. It was a really solid weekend.

Q. With the locker room -- what's the locker room situation like with the draft being so close before the game? Did you have to switch before the game?

DAMIAN LILLARD: Yeah, some of us switched lockers, and some people stayed in the same locker room. I ended up switching because I was in the West Conference team and got picked and switched lockers.

I mean, it was just -- everything just felt long. It was an hour between everything. It felt like the longest All-Star that I've been a part of.

I think everything leading up to the game -- that was the only thing that was different.

Q. Have you lost an All-Star Game?

DAMIAN LILLARD: Yes.

Q. I can't remember.

DAMIAN LILLARD: I know we lost -- I feel like we lost my first All-Star Game in New Orleans, and I think -- I know for a fact we lost in LA because in LA I felt like I was on my way to MVP.

It was the actual game. People were guarding it like a real game. I remember Mike D'Antoni took me out of the game with six minutes left, and I was, like, I hit a bunch of shots in a row and had a little lead and we ended up losing. I remember that one.