NBA: Damian Lillard Reveals Trash Talk With Russell Westbrook

Two weeks ago, Damian Lillard and Russell Westbrook figured in a verbal skirmish during the Trail Blazers game against the Rockets in Houston. Being the fierce competitors that they are, it turns out to be just one of the countless times the two All-Stars traded pleasantries towards each other, and Lillard openly revealed what actually transpired when their paths last crossed.

The 6’2 star guard spoke with Jason Quick of The Athletic and bared the barking exchange. Apparently, the tension started when Lillard fouled Westbrook hard when the latter was driving hard to the basket early in the fourth quarter of the game. The 2017 NBA MVP then started talking according to the 29-year-old.

“As he was going to the line, he said, ‘That’s automatic two points. Two points,'” Lillard revealed.

That’s when he took a swipe at Westbrook’s free-throw shooting and said, “You a 60 percent free-throw shooter. You gonna miss both of them.” The words somehow spoke to existence as Westbrook missed the first of his pair of freebies.

Appearing to be triggered, the former fourth overall pick retaliated by making a jeer at Portland’s poor regular season tally. "What playoff seed are you all?” Lillard quoted Westbrook.

The 2013 Rookie of the Year then tried to burn the former OKC superstar by saying, "You know I'm the last person you want to see in the playoffs."

Both players were then slapped with a double technical in what would later result in Lillard having the last laugh as the Trail Blazers won convincingly, 117-107.

Checking the facts, it shows that Westbrook was actually a 79 percent shooter from the 15-ft. line. It was last year where he shot a career-worst 65.6 percent from the said mark.

While it’s true that the Trail Blazers are out of the Playoff picture thus far with a 20-27 record, Lillard’s bold claim as to be a dangerous foe for Westbrook in the postseason is somehow backed by historical facts.

Lillard steered the Trail Blazers all the way to the Western Conference Finals last season whose course included the infamous 37-foot game-winner at the buzzer that sent Westbrook and the Thunder packing after Game 5 of the first round in the Playoffs. It is likewise worth noting that the dagger gave Lillard his 50^th point of the game.