NBA’s 75th Anniversary: A Grand Celebration of Basketball Icons

In a rare display of humility from an NBA superstar, Damian Lillard found himself in awe at the NBA’s Top 75 event when he came face-to-face with the legendary Michael Jordan. Despite Lillard’s own status as an all-time great, being part of the NBA’s 75th-anniversary squad, he openly acknowledged that his radiance paled in comparison to the greatness embodied by His Airness.

The 2022 All-Star Weekend, held in Cleveland, was not just a celebration of the league’s milestone but also a surreal experience for Lillard. As part of the festivities, the NBA paid tribute to its 75 greatest players, seamlessly blending past legends like Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, and Michael Jordan with present-day stars, including Lillard himself.

Reflecting on the event, Lillard shared his amazement at the presence of basketball luminaries. Traditionally, as a younger player, he was accustomed to taking pictures with iconic figures like LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Dirk Nowitzki, Tim Duncan, and Dwight Howard.

The pinnacle of Lillard’s starstruck experience occurred when Michael Jordan made his entrance. Recounting the moment, Lillard described how the atmosphere changed as cameras focused on Jordan, emphasizing his unparalleled status as the Greatest of All Time (GOAT).

“When we get in the hallway, we see MJ walking towards us. He’s walking, and there are more cameras on him by himself than there were for all of us, and that’s when you really saw the difference of, like, man, this dude the GOAT!” Lillard vividly narrated.

Despite the proximity, Lillard humorously revealed that he still hasn’t officially met Jordan, recounting the experience of standing next to Clyde Drexler, utterly starstruck, and simply admiring the presence of the basketball icon. This candid moment from one NBA great to another captures the timeless reverence players like Lillard hold for the enduring legacy of Michael Jordan.