NBA players make it to the top after a hard grind. For many, it begins right from their primary school times and only heats up as they get near to college. High school is a crucial period because this is where scouts identify the major talents who can make it big. In this journey, these incredible athletes make a lot of friends and can’t make it without their support. However, as the rigors of adult life, the engagement gets lower. But the memory lingers on. There can also be heartbreaks and losing a friend altogether. Damian Lillard suffered one such huge loss.

Damian Lillard loses childhood friend

Growing up, Dame had the support of many friends. They banded like family amidst hard conditions. In high school, he built a strong group that remains tight-knit to this day. Despite reaching big heights, the humble guard knows where he began. Therefore, he still keeps his old mates in his heart. 

In devastating news, he lost one of his high-school friends whose professional name was Pnut, also known as P. Damian Lillard took to Instagram to mourn his loss. In a story posted by another one of his early hoop mates, Jordan Jacobs, he performed his prayers. Pnut’s cousin Jacobs wrote, “We been at this since ball boy days with the rebels. Love you cuzzo”. Resharing this story, Lillard wrote, “Rest Well”. As a youngster, Lillard was a part of Oakland Rebels, a part of the youth basketball leagues. This club caters to hoopers that are in the 7-16 years age bracket. 

While playing in high school, scouts didn’t rate the then 5’11” Guard highly, and he wasn’t even a three-star recruit.

When he reached Weber State, he had to put on a thorough show for three seasons. He averaged 24.5 points a game in his final season, second only to Reggie Hamilton. This made him the top guard in the draft. Portland Trail Blazers gladly took him with the sixth pick in 2012.

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Fast forward a decade, and he no longer wants to be with them.

Damian Lillard’s specific demand has made for a deadlock

After he and his camp leaked that he no longer wants to be a Trail Blazers and wants only Miami Heat, the league sent him a warning memo.

This had a prolific impact on the proceedings. Apart from that, both Miami Heat and Portland Trail Blazers are in no hurry. They are carefully working things out. This waiting game is making many parties anxious but both teams are still not ready to pull the trigger.

Will the Lillard to Heat scenario happen at all?

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