NBA All-Star Damian Lillard in Australia: ‘NBA scouts will look in Ben Simmons’ backyard’
NBA All-Star Damian Lillard has touched down in Sydney for a whirlwind trip and has tipped big things for Australian basketball off the back of Ben Simmons’ success in the US. WATCH THE INTERVIEW
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Ben Simmons has put Australia on the NBA map like no one else before him.
In Sydney for the first time, American basketball all-star Damian Lillard said: “Ben has definitely made it (basketball in Australia) stronger as far as his star power. You’ve had Australians come to the United States and do well but I think he is the guy that is taking it to the next level where you’ve got to respect his star power.
“It is going to cause NBA scouts and other people to come look in his backyard because they want to find another Ben Simmons”.
Lillard, who is also a chart-topping rapper, is in Australia as a global ambassador for Adidas, will attend an event at World Square on Friday night where he will perform three of his new tracks and take part in a basketball shoot out with young fans.
“My advice is to continue to work at it and be 100 per cent committed to it,” the Portland Trail Blazers star said in a message to young Australian basketballers looking to make it in the US.
“Being a successful basketball player, my lifelong commitment to the game has paid off for me. I didn’t grow up with a bunch of money and lots of resources but that commitment and drive, being a good person and doing well in school … you’ve got to take steps so as long as you are moving in the right direction, you can get there”.
A day after the US basketball team suffered its second defeat in a row to miss out on the medal rounds altogether at the World Cup in China, Lillard said he was looking forward to representing his country at the Tokyo Olympics next year.
“I definitely plan on being a part of the Olympics,” said Lillard, who is signed to a four year deal with Portland worth $285 million.
Outside of basketball, Lillard is focused on his music, having released three albums and released tracks with Lil Wayne and 2 Chainz.
And in what may come as a surprise to some, he shared his music guilty pleasures.
“I think a lot of people would be surprised that I like John Mayer, I like Sam Smith and I like Taylor Swift,” he said. “I heard a few (Swift) songs on the radio and then I found myself learning the words to the song and then I downloaded them to my phone. Then I listened to her album and I follow her on Instagram.”
Lillard has dabbled in acting too and will appear alongside LeBron James in upcoming Hollywood flick Space Jam 2.
“I think people are really going to enjoy it,” he said of the project, careful not to give too much away.
“It is just another thing that I am taking up. I am proud of it, I can say that. It was a lot of fun to make, all of us being around each other in a different setting, we weren’t playing basketball, it was a challenge for all of us, something different and a good direction to be going in.”