Former Portland Trail Blazers superstar Damian Lillard returned to Portland Friday night to receive the first Bill Walton Community Impact Award from the Maurice Lucas Foundation. The award recognized Lillard for his 11 seasons with the Blazers from 2012-2023 and his impact on the Portland community.
The award, of course, also honored Blazers legend Bill Walton, who passed away in May at age 71. Walton was a big supporter of the foundation, named after Maurice Lucas, another late Blazers great. Walton and Lucas were teammates on the Blazers 1977 NBA Championship team and close friends.