Damian Lillard Returns to Northern California for Ninth All-Star Game, Announces $25,000 Annual Scholarship Fund
This weekend, Milwaukee Bucks point guard Damian Lillard will be appearing in his ninth NBA All-Star game at Chase Center in San Francisco, which is a homecoming for the Oakland native. Lillard is taking advantage of this time to repay the community that shaped him, despite the accolades and bright lights of All-Star Weekend. A $25,000 annual scholarship fund dedicated to students from nine high schools across the East Bay was announced by Lillard on Thursday. The initiative, which is part of a partnership with Portland State University, aims to provide financial aid to students pursuing higher education outside of California.
“I’m here to announce a partnership with Portland State: a scholarship in my name,” Lillard said. “$25,000 a year, [to] lighten the load of being an out-of-state student. Bringing together both the places that I probably have the most ties to — Oakland being home [and the site of his announcement] and having reached the platform of success I have, I think it’s kind of my duty to come back.”
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A Legacy Beyond Basketball
Lillard’s commitment to philanthropy and uplifting his community has made him an essential part of his legacy, even though he is still a force on the court at 34. He is deeply attached to the Pacific Northwest after spending his first 11 seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers, where he made all seven of his All-NBA teams and led the Blazers to the 2019 Western Conference Finals.
“That’s what a lot of people that I grew up with probably missed, that never left, they just kind of get trapped and stuck in the same thing. So to go out and see the world, go experience different places. My younger sister graduated from Portland State,” Lillard explained. “I played in the same conference as Portland State, in the Big Sky [Lillard played for Weber State], and obviously living in Portland for the amount of time that I did, I know that it’s a great city and a great environment for these kids to be able to have an opportunity to transition from high school to college.”
Making an Impact in Milwaukee
Lillard has a strong attachment to Oakland and Portland, but he is focused on the Milwaukee Bucks, who acquired him in a blockbuster trade last summer. In his first season with the Bucks, he has been a key contributor, averaging 25.8 points, 7.5 assists, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game across 44 contests while shooting an efficient 45.2% from the field, 38.2% from deep, and 92.1% from the free-throw line.
A Model for Future Generations
Lillard’s scholarship program exemplifies his commitment to education and sets an example for other athletes who want to help their hometowns. By easing the financial burden for students in Oakland and the surrounding areas, he hopes to inspire the next generation to chase their dreams, just as he did when he left The Bay Area to pursue his basketball career at Weber State.
As he takes the court at Chase Center for his ninth All-Star Game, Lillard’s presence will be felt not just as one of the NBA’s premier guards but as a role model for young students looking to create a brighter future for themselves.
Damian Lillard’s influence goes beyond basketball, thanks to his continued excellence on the court and his commitment to making a lasting impact off it.
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