The Portland Trail Blazers would do anything to retain star player Damian Lillard for the long term. They proved it by agreeing to a two-year contract extension that will net him about $60 million a season.
The 32-year-old wasn’t scheduled to freelance until 2025, but that hasn’t stopped Trail Blazers top management from offering him the gold medal to possibly spend the rest of his league career in Oregon State. He will be paid an average of $44 million over the next three campaigns before beginning his new contract, which will see him earn about $16 million more annually.
Lillard spent his entire NBA career with the Trail Blazers, making six appearances in the Silver Tour All-Star Game in 10 campaigns. He has averaged 24.6 points per game since turning pro.
The former first-round pick, sixth overall in 2012, only played 29 games last season due to a stomach injury.