Portland Trail Blazers' Damian Lillard impressed with Anfernee Simons, Nassir Little

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Portland Trail Blazers star guard Damian Lillard decided to take a mental break from basketball after undergoing a core surgery. Lillard underwent a core surgery on 13 January and since then he has been at home recovering.

At first, Lillard didn't want to watch Trail Blazers game but the recent performances of Anfernee Simons and Nassir Little made him change his mind. “I haven’t been able to stop watching, for that reason,” Lillard said, per Oregon Live.

“So, it’s tough to watch as a competitor, but it’s been fun to watch, too”.

Lillard knew Simons and Little had the talent

In January, Simons is averaging 25 points and 7.2 assists. On the other side, Little is averaging 12.5 points and 5.5 rebounds.

The Trail Blazers are 7-4 since Lillard left the lineup. “I knew their talent level, and I knew that they could be pieces that could make us make that leap at some point,” said Lillard, who will be reevaluated in five weeks.

“This isn’t a matter of him riding a wave of me playing well and now he’s saying all this type of stuff,” Little said. “Dame has genuinely believed in me from day one since I got into the league.

So, I appreciate that. He’s just been a guy that I can just talk to and bounce my ideas off and tell how I’m feeling, what I’m seeing on the court. He’s just helped me try to see the game in a different way.

So, I’m very appreciative of him and his support for me”. Lillard is happy for Simons because he always believed in him. “I’ve always known it was there,” Lillard said. “How capable he is and the talent level and the demeanor.

Who he is as a person ... It takes time in this league, especially when you don’t have the most opportunity all the time. So, I’m super proud of him”.