In Photos: Damian Lillard rocks all-brown blazer as he receives first-ever Bill Walton Community Impact Award

Damian Lillard was back in Portland last Friday to receive the first-ever Bill Walton Community Impact Award. Lillard spent the first 11 years of his career in Portland before requesting a trade last summer. He was dealt to the Milwaukee Bucks in a blockbuster three-team trade that also involved the Phoenix Suns.

In a post on his official Instagram account, Lillard shared several photos from the event where he received the award for his efforts to help the Portland community. He was wearing an all-brown blazer suit when he was awarded with a plaque and a frame of his and Walton's jerseys.

The event was attended by many former Trail Blazers players such as Terry Porter and Lionel Hollins. It was organized by the Maurice Lucas Foundation in honor of Walton and Lucas, who were both part of the 1977 championship team.

"Appreciate @mauricelucasfoundation and honored to receive the First Bill Walton Community Impact Award. In the name of not only an all time great NBA player but great man. Doing for others is something I’ve picked up from my family as something you do at no cost… simply out of the kindness of your heart and having desire to lift others up! All love all ways," Lillard wrote in the captions.

Damian Lillard had a special connection with the city of Portland despite what transpired last summer. Lillard did a lot of good for the community during his stay there, which is one of the reasons why the Maurice Lucas Foundation gave him the first-ever Bill Walton Community Impact Award.

"It makes it more of an honor because of what it represents, and that’s what you do for other people, how you are in the community, how you are lifting up others outside of yourself, and that’s something I take a lot of pride in," Lillard said in a statement before the ceremony. [H/T Blazers Edge]

Bill Walton passed away on May 27 due to colorectal cancer at the age of 71. He was honored by the Boston Celtics ahead of Game 1 of the 2024 NBA Finals. Walton played three years in Boston, winning the Sixth Man of the Year in 1986, as well as his second championship.

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Damian Lillard gave his all for the Portland Trail Blazers

Damian Lillard gave his all for the Portland Trail Blazers. (Photo: IMAGN)

Damian Lillard was drafted sixth overall by the Portland Trail Blazers in 2012 out of Weber State. Lillard came in at the perfect time since the Blazers were looking for a new franchise player following Brandon Roy's abrupt retirement due to injuries.

The Oakland native won Rookie of the Year and led the Blazers to the playoffs eight times in his 11 years there. He played with top players such as LaMarcus Aldridge, Jusuf Nurkic and CJ McCollum, but never made it to the NBA Finals.

Despite that, Damian Lillard will likely go down as one of the greatest players in franchise history alongside Bill Walton and Clyde Drexler. Lillard also owns a bunch of franchise records that could call for a future jersey retirement ceremony.