According to TMZ, The Blazers were scheduled to fly from Portland to Sacramento, California for their matchup with the Kings tonight, February 23, “but a severe snowstorm delayed their chartered flight for seven hours” last night, February 22.
While stranded, Lillard transformed into Dame D.O.L.L.A., his musical alter ego, to spit a freestyle over the beat to GloRilla’s “Tomorrow 2” remix featuring Cardi B (as noted by TMZ).
Lillard posted the video to his Instagram with the caption, “When you stuck on the plane for 7 hours and the flight get canceled [shrug emoji] … guess we try again TOMORROW [cry-laughing emojis]”:
“How the f*ck we stuck up in the snow? Guess we fly this b*tch tomorrow,” Dame rapped while reading from his phone. Later in the freestyle, he referenced his “Dame Time” nickname — “I’ma tap my wrist, it’s Dame Time / I give them fits” — and cleverly demanded, “Captain, let me in the pit!”
Lillard has been delivering cold bars for years, and he’s a respected rapper by his NBA peers and rap legends alike.
His debut project, The Letter “O,” arrived in 2016, and it housed collaborations with Lil Wayne and Jamie Foxx. Confirmed (2017), Big D.O.L.L.A. (2019), Live From The Bubble (2020) and Different On Levels The Lord Allowed(2021) followed suit. Wayne, Blxst, Mozzy, Q-Tip, and Raphael Saadiq were among the featured artists on Different On Levels The Lord Allowed.
Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard has won the 3-point contest at NBA All-Star Weekend, achieving what he says was a life goal of his. Lillard finished just one point ahead of Buddy Hield to secure the title on Saturday night. Other competitors in the event included Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, New York Knicks forward Julius Randle, and Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen.
“This was a goal of mine because as a shooter, any time you come into a competition like this, you want to win it,” Lillard said after the win. “I had done it two times before this, and I feel like I just didn’t take it serious enough. You know, I wanted to just shoot my way to a win, and I wasn’t shooting the ball really disciplined. I was lazy. I wanted to win at least one time before I was done playing. That’s why I took this one a little more serious, and it just happened that way.”
Lillard’s Comments
“I think all the best shooters in the history of our game, most of them have one of these… I just wanted to get it done at least one time. So I’m happy I got it, now I can retire from it.”
Lillard explained that he was miscounting in his head during the match, and thought he only had a chance to tie Hield’s score of 26. “It got to a point where I was counting in my head because the first round I didn’t even finish the rack because I was trying to look and find my score,” Lillard said. “This time I started counting, and I lost track. So as I got down the stretch of that last two racks, I was counting. I knew I had to make all of them, but I thought I was on track to tie him. I actually lost count. But I knew I needed to make all of them. Then when I looked up, I was, like, ‘Oh, that’s 26.’ It’s ironic that it came down to that, and I had to tighten up and come up big at the end. But, that’s typical for me.”
Lillard is currently averaging 31.4 points, ranking him fourth in scoring for the league. The feat isn’t enough to carry the Blazers to a playoff spot as the team is only 28-30 on the season. They’re currently ranked 12th in the western conference. The NBA All-Star Game will tip-off at 8:00 PM, ET on Sunday night.
The NBA All-Star Saturday night field is set. Participating in the challenges in Salt Lake City, Utah, features NBA stars like Giannis Antentokounmpo and Damian Lillard, Rising Stars like Anfernee Simons, Paolo Banchero, and Kenyon Martin Jr.
In the 3-point contest, Portland Trailblazers teammates Lillard and Simons will face off against 2020 champion of the Indiana Pacers Buddy Hield, his teammate Tyrese Haliburton, Tyler Herro of the Miami HEAT, Kevin Heurter of the Sacramento Kings, Lauri Markkanen of the Utah Jazz and Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics.
Antentokounmpo will team with his brothers Thanasis and Alex in the skills challenge taking on host Team Jazz composed of Jordan Clarkson, Walker Kessler, and Collin Sexton, and Team Rooks, composed of No. 1 pick Paolo Banchero of the Orlando Magic, No. 3 pick Jabari Smith Jr. of the Houston Rockets and No. 5 pick Jaden Ivey of the Detroit Pistons.
The Dunk Contest will feature Philadelphia’s Mac McClung, Houston’s Kenyon Martin Jr., New Orleans’ Trey Murphy III, and New York’s Jericho Sims.
Damian Lillard had it all going in the Portland Trailblazers’ 134-124 win over the Utah Jazz. Logo Lillard only shot 29 times but dropped 60 points for the game. To make the performance even more impressive, Lillard only shot 10 free throws. Efficiency at its finest.
“That was incredible, man,” Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said to ESPN. “You don’t get to see that very often, to be that efficient. For a guy to score 60 points and only 10 free throws and make nine of them, you’re thinking either this dude has an absurd amount of 3s. It was just incredible how efficient he was.”
Included in his 60-point effort were 72% shooting and nine 3-pointers.
“It’s the most efficient 60-point game ever, for real?” Lillard said. “That’s crazy. I didn’t know that. I’m just sitting here thinking I had a shot at the end of the shot clock from half court toward the end that I shot. It probably would have been a little bit better. I missed a free throw. Damn.”
Damian Lillard and Patrick Beverley were getting into it last night. Of course, many of you already know that the Los Angeles Lakers came back from 25 points to defeat the Portland Trail Blazers. Lillard struggled at times, and overall, LeBron James had another fantastic game.
As for the Lillard and Beverley quarrels, it all started in the second quarter. Prior to taking a commanding lead, Lillard had some harsh words for Pat Bev, who was being a pest. Subsequently, Beverley trolled Lillard with the “Dame Time” celebration at the end of the game.
After the game, Beverley continued to have words for Lillard. For instance, Beverley wanted some credit for Lillard’s struggles in the second half.
“If he would have cooked me you would have said ‘I couldn’t guard him.’ But he misses a couple of shots and it’s a ‘slow shooting night.’ ‘Good job on Dame’ sounds better,” Beverley said.
Damian Lillard Responds
This led to a quick response from Lillard on Twitter, who simply said “Con man. Flip from above the rim.” Clearly, Lillard isn’t moved by what Beverley was able to do throughout the game. Interestingly enough, Lillard isn’t the only player to have made a comment like this about Pat Bev.
Just a short while after this tweet, Pat Bev went straight back at Lillard, saying “He mad.” Overall, this is a beef that won’t last more than a day. However, it just goes to show how competitive these guys are at everything they do.
Moving forward, Beverley and the Lakers will be looking to get themselves into a playoff position. The team has been playing a lot better as of late, and they certainly have a shot at getting into the postseason. It really all depends on whether or not Anthony Davis can stay healthy upon return.
Let us know whose side you are taking in all of this, in the comments down below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more news and updates from the sports world.
Signature sneakers are easily some of the best ways for fans to feel like they are their favorite NBA star. Every single year, the biggest stars in the game come through with new offerings of their signature lines. Brands like Nike, Adidas, Under Armour, Puma, and more, all have signature athletes, which subsequently leads to some good old-fashioned sneaker wars.
Overall, Nike has largely dominated the signature shoe space over the years. However, it really seems like the other brands are catching up. More athletes are signing with Adidas and Puma than ever before, which has led to amazing competition.
2022 has been particularly great for signature sneakers, and with this list, we are counting down the 10 best releases of the entire year.
10. Nike PG 6 (Paul George)
Sneakers worn by Paul George #13 of the Los Angeles Clippers during the game against Cleveland Cavaliers at Crypto.com Arena on November 7, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Starting off our list is the Nike PG 6, courtesy of Paul George. Throughout the years, George has consistently had one of the best signature shoes. His latest offering is perhaps his wildest yet thanks to the unique midsole and tooling on the upper. Overall, this model lends itself to some cool colorways, and they will definitely make you flash on the court. While some may prefer his first couple of releases, there is now doubt that the PG 6 has its merits.
9. PUMA MB.01 (LaMelo Ball)
The shoes of LaMelo Ball #2 of the Charlotte Hornets during their game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Spectrum Center on March 21, 2022 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
LaMelo Ball is one of the biggest and brightest young stars in the NBA. Consequently, Puma gave him his very own signature shoe, the Melo MB.01. The second variation is starting to make its way to the market, however, we prefer the first silhouette. This shoe comes complete with wings protruding from the cuff, as well as some Xs across the midsole. The shoe speaks to LaMelo’s personality and it is definitely one of the more unique signature sneakers on this list.
8. Jordan Luka 1 (Luka Doncic)
A detailed view of the shoes worn by Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks as the Mavericks play the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second half at American Airlines Center on December 14, 2022 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
Next on the list is Luka Doncic with his first offering, the Jordan Luka 1. As a whole, this shoe is fairly basic in its construction. However, there are some unique elements here that lend themselves well to interesting colorways. The silhouette itself is sleak, and as far as signatures go, these are easily the least offensive on the market. Hopefully, Luka and Jumpman get just a bit more creative next time around.
A view of the shoes worn by Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors as the Warriors take on the Dallas Mavericks in the second half at American Airlines Center on November 29, 2022 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
Back in the day, Steph Curry’s signature sneakers with Under Armour used to get heavily roasted. Subsequently, UA went into the lab and fixed their formula. Now, Curry consistently has one of the best shoes in the league. With the Curry Flow 10, that trend certainly continues. As the name suggests, the silhouette flows incredibly well. Moreover, the upper’s construction is complex as interwoven mesh blends with the ridged midsole. If you love Curry, these are a must-own.
6. Adidas D.O.N. Issue #4 (Donovan Mitchell)
A detail is pictured of the sneakers worn by Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on November 27, 2022 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
Donovan Mitchell will always get points from us for having the most unique-named signature sneakers on the market. Mitchell is a huge comic book fan, and he has backed up that love by giving each new shoe an Issue number. As it stands, Mitchell is on Issue #4 of his D.O.N. series. Above, you can see that this shoe is just an overall simple yet effective silhouette. Adidas is great at crafting performance-driven signatures, and this is yet another example of that.
5. Adidas Dame 8 (Damian Lillard)
A detailed view of the sneakers worn by Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers against the Miami Heat at the Moda Center on October 26, 2022 in Portland, Oregon. The Miami Heat won 119-98. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
Overall, Damian Lillard’s line of signature sneakers has been incredibly consistent. Every single year, Dame drops a dope shoe. This year, it has been the Adidas Dame 8. These kicks are packed with personality, and they showcase Lillard’s confidence. On the side of the shoe, “DAME” is written under some mesh, all while zig-zags complement the three stripes. It isn’t the flashiest shoe ever, however, it gets points for being yet another solid signature from the game’s most overlooked point guard.
4. Nike Zoom Freak 4 (Giannis Antetokounmpo)
Detail of the sneaker worn by Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first quarter of the game at Target Center on November 4, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
Giannis Antetokounmpo is the best player in the entire NBA right now, and his signature shoe is fit for a king. His line has always been solid from the jump, and with the Zoom Freak 4, Nike has yet another hit on its hands. A chunky midsole, a backward swoosh, and unique colorways help this model stand out. If you liked the previous three models, you will definitely love this one too. For those of you out there who hoop, you know these are great to play in. Giannis has a great eye for performance, and this signature certainly deserves its top 5 ranking.
A general view of the shoes worn by Kevin Durant #7 of the Brooklyn Nets during the game against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on December 12, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images)
When it comes to signature sneakers, it feels like Kevin Durant has always succeeded in the performance department. Furthermore, his shoes always look great…which definitely helps. If you go to any college or high school basketball game, you will notice that many players are wearing the Nike KD 15. That’s because even schools know these shoes are workhorses. They hold up well on the court, and there are enough amazing colorways out there to make you stand out. KD is always a staple of these lists, and the KD 15 cemented that trend further.
2. Jordan Zion 2 (Zion Williamson)
Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans wears a pair of Nike shoes prior to the start of an NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at Smoothie King Center on December 09, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
Zion Williamson never even got to wear the Jordan Zion 1. Thankfully, Zion is back on the court, and he is proudly wearing the Jordan Zion 2, in the process. Williamson is a large player which means he needs a large shoe that can withstand his power. As you can see, this shoe takes on aesthetics from the early 2000s, when big men like Shaq were dominating the game. The strap on the toe, the reinforced upper, and the chunky midsole all come together to form one of the best releases of the year. While these might not be for everyone, there is no doubt that Jordan Brand snapped with these. Over the course of the season, we can’t wait to see Zion wear more colorways.
1. Nike LeBron 20 (LeBron James)
The shoes of LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers are seen during the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center on December 09, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
Putting LeBron James at the top of a signature sneakers list seems a little on the nose. Over the past few years, most people would scoff at LeBron ever topping one of these lists again. However, the Nike LeBron 20 has certainly captured the attention of fans. With this model, LeBron is going back to the early days of his line with a more low-top silhouette. Even his peers like Kevin Durant have praised these. From the two-swoosh concept to the graphics that adorn the midsole underneath the toe box, these are simply stunning. More colorways are to come, and there is no doubt that this is a must-own shoe. Props to LeBron and Nike for an incredible return to form.
Let us know which of these signature shoes is your favorite, in the comments down below.
Lillard passed up the NBA legend during a Monday night game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. According to ESPN, Drexler had 18,040 points in 867 games for the team between 1983-95. Lillard needed just 21 points to pass Drexler.
“It’s a great feeling to reach the top,” Lillard said. “It’s been a goal of mine, and the list has so many players, great history of our organization, so to finally be No. 1 is a special accomplishment that I’m proud of.”
Lillard had 28 points for the night but lost to the Thunder 123-121.
Y’know, even with the infamously exercise-obsessed LeBron James starring in Space Jam 2 this summer, Damian Lillard must be the hardest working man in basketball right now. Not only did he put in his time in Tokyo helping lead Team USA to yet another Olympic gold medal, but he was also apparently working on his fourth album, Different On Levels The Lord Allowed, at the same time. Now, the album’s out, and with it, Dame D.O.L.L.A.’s new video for “We The Ones” featuring Blxst and singer Tree Thomas.
The video’s setup is pretty standard and fits the song’s theme of authenticity and the benefits of hustling, cutting back and forth between scenes contrasting Dame’s humble beginnings in Oakland, California, and his current conditions, which involve private chefs, elegant dinners, and pool parties where the pool doesn’t need to be inflated. He’s offered lyrical assists by Blxst and Tree, who offer their own takes on the rags-to-riches story being relayed (on a side note, why do so many rappers focus on breakfast when they do these scenes? Toosii did it a few months ago too and it just feels like breakfast is probably the worst meal to illustrate a major financial come-up because what exactly is an “extravagant” breakfast, really?).
Watch Dame D.O.L.L.A.’s “We The Ones” video featuring Blxst and Tree Thomas above.
Check out Different On Levels The Lord Allowed out now on Empire here.
This year has been a fairly quiet one for Damian Lillard, aka Dame D.O.L.L.A., on the music side of things, but with the NBA season two months away from starting, the Oakland-born rapper and basketball player is also getting ready to share his next album. On Wednesday, Dame shared the tracklist for his fourth album, which is titled Different On Levels The Lord Allowed. The full-length effort, which arrives on August 20, comes equipped with 12 songs and features from Blxst, Lil Wayne, Mozzy, Q-Tip, Snoop Dogg, Raphael Saadiq, Derrick Milano, Jane Handcock, Dreebo, and Tree Thomas.
Can’t wait for y’all to hear this full album and see all the visuals. Shoutout to everyone that worked with me on the project.
My full “Different On Levels The Lord Allowed” album and a new visual for “We The Ones” drop Thursday night at midnight ET/9 PM PT #DameDOLLApic.twitter.com/Kbye2deun6
In addition to announcing the album and unveiling its tracklist, Dame also revealed a video for “We The Ones” with Blxst and Tree Thomas would arrive on Friday. He previously released “Kobe” with Snoop Dogg and Derrick Milano, “Goat Spirit” featuring Raphael Saadiq, and “Home Team” in 2020 as singles for the album. He previously revealed the cover art for the album, which depicts a drawing of his face in the clouds.
You can view the announcement from Dame above and the album’s full tracklist below.
1. “The Juice” Feat. Jane Handcock
2. “Overnight” Feat. Blxst
3. “Right One” Feat. Lil Wayne & Mozzy
4. “IYKYK” Feat. Jane Handcock
5. “For Me” Feat. Derrick Milano
6. “We The Ones” Feat. Blxst & Tree Thomas
7. “Him Duncan”
8. “Home Team” Feat. Dreebo
9. “Meditate” Feat. Q-Tip
10. “Mentality Interlude”
11. “Kobe” Feat. Snoop Dogg & Derrick Milano
12. “Goat Spirit” Feat. Raphael Saadiq
Different On Levels The Lord Allowed is out 8/20 via Front Page Music. Pre-order it here.
#ULTRADrip | #RipCity pic.twitter.com/n6rnAtcmuZ
The 2023 
