Portland, Oregon’s Damian Lillard is the first athlete to have a spot at Adidas’ North America facility renamed after him.
During his visit to Adidas’ headquarters on Tuesday, Lillard was stunneԀ with a basketball court dedication ceremony. The Damian Lillard Court will keep him firmly planted in Portland, where he played for the Trailblazers from 2012 until the Milwaukee Bucks traded for him in a massive deal last summer.
For the first time since the deal, Lillard will be playing as an opponent when the Trailblazers visit town on Wednesday night. His trademark footwear brand debuted in 2015, and he has been an Adidas athlete since 2012. The most recent upgrade came in August with the release of the Adidas Dаme 8 ExtPly.
In contrast to Nike, which has a long history of honoring notable players and coaches at its Beaverton headquarters with places named after them, Adidas has made Lillard the first athlete to have a location named after him. This is in stark contrast to Nike.
“I am deeply touched by this gesture,” Lillard expressed during the event. The admiration is palpable. I am filled with gratitude and admiration for my professional accomplishments as well as my personal growth as a result of how I have managed them.
At the ceremony, a memorial video played that highlighted his life and work and featured footage of his volunteer work and other community service.
Adidas Honors Damian Lillard at Portland Campus, Making Him the First Athlete to Have a Location Named After Them
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is now the first athlete to have a spot at Adidas’ Portland, USA, North American campus named after him.
On Tuesday, while Lillard was visiting Adidas’ headquarters, the company surprised him with a basketball court dedication ceremony. He had been a member of the Trailblazers since 2012 until being traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in a massive trade last summer, and the Damian Lillard Court further ties him to the city.On Wednesday night, Lillard will face off against the Trailblazers for the first time since the trade, when he was a player for Portland. Additionally, he has been an Adidas athlete since 2012. In 2015, he debuted his signature sneaker line, which was most recently updated in August with the release of the Adidas Dаme 8 ExtPly.
Unlike Nike, which has a long history of naming locations at its Beaverton headquarters after famous players and coaches like Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Serena Williams, and Mike Krzyzewski, Adidas is making Lillard the first athlete to have a place named after him.
To which Lillard responded, “This is a gesture that I’m moved by” when speaking during the event. “I sense the admiration. Not only am I proud of my professional accomplishments, but I am also proud of the way I have handled challenges in my personal and romantic relationships.
During the ceremony, a memorial movie was aired that showcased his professional highlights and segments showcasing his community involvement.
