'Emotionally Drained' Damian Lillard Opens Up About Impact of Family Tragedies

In a story by Jason Quick of The Athletic, Damian Lillard opened up about the multiple tragedies to afflict his family over the past 18 months.

Damian Lillard, unfortunately, is shouldering burdens much heavier than the weight of his injury-depleted team. 

In a must-read story by The Athletic's Jason Quick, the Portland Trail Blazers superstar opened up about the multiple family tragedies in recent months that have left him "emotionally drained."

“I’m happiest when my family is happy, and when people I love are happy,” Lillard said. “And I know it’s a hard time for them. So much has been happening.”

Last May, Lillard found his cousin and longtime personal chef, Brandon Johnson, dead in his Portland-area home. One of Lillard's aunts died from cancer and a friend died from COVID-19 in the months to follow. Another of his cousins was killed in West Oakland shortly after the new year. 

Last Thursday, a day before Portland's game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Lillard learned that two people in his inner circle – a cousin who spent last Thanksgiving with Lillard in Portland and one of his closest family friends – had been shot to death.

“It’s been a hard year and a half for my family, man,” Lillard said. “People have no idea.”

Lillard readily admits that the rash of family tragedy has taken a toll on his psyche. Though he's been able to compartmentalize his basketball responsibilities amid such personal upheaval, Lillard also knows his grieving kin takes solace from watching him carry on the family name in the NBA.

“I know that my success makes them happy,” Lillard said. “Every game we play, my whole entire family is at home watching. They don’t miss a game. I know that does something positive for them, and that it means something to them, and that’s a major part of our happiness as a family and us being able to continue forward and stay together.”

Lillard and the Trail Blazers host the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night at Moda Center.

(h/t Jason Quick, The Athletic)

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