Silver made his decision on Friday. It was bad news for Lillard.
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Lillard wanted to be in the All-Star game for the second year in a row. Before Silver’s announcement, the third-year guard told the Portland media that he was looking forward to the occasion, and if he wasn’t selected he’d be “pissed off” and take it out on his opponents.
While we wait to see how it affects his on-court production now that we know he won’t be making the trip to New York, Lillard’s frustration boiled over on Instagram. He “thanked” the coaches, fans and Silver for overlooking him and expressed how he felt disrespected.
Lillard repeated his frustration when he spoke with reporters during the Blazers’ shootaround in Atlanta, where Portland will take on the Hawks.
“For me to be having the type of season that I’m having, which is better than any one that I’ve had before, and my team to be third in the Western Conference, I just see it as disrespect,” Lillard said. “I’m not one of those guys that’s going to say, ‘Oh, I should be in over this guy or that guy.’ I’m not a hater. I’ve got respect for each guy that made the roster. And I think they deserve to (make the team). But at the same time, I feel really disrespected, and that’s just honestly how I feel.”
Lillard participated in all five events during last year’s All-Star Weekend. In a shocking turn of events, he will appear in none this year.
The Trail Blazers currently have the third-best record in a crowded Western Conference and Lillard has cemented his place in the NBA’s upper echelon, posting career-highs of 21.7 points and 6.1 assists per game.
Lillard will be even more motivated in the second half of the season.
