McCollum says Portland will always hold a special place in his heart because of the success he experienced there and the partnership he developed with Damian Lillard over nearly a decade. Lillard’s rise to stardom came quicker than McCollum’s, so McCollum got to study his teammate’s trials and tribulations as he learned to deal with the responsibility of running a team. As McCollum rose to prominence, his relationship with Lillard steadied some of the turmoil Portland had to deal with over the years. “Their relationship was bigger than basketball,” said Terry Stotts, who coached McCollum during his first eight seasons in Portland. “They were like brothers on and off the court.”
by Hoops Hype