NBA summer workout videos are an unmistakable trope, prevalent in the weeks between the end of Summer League and the onset of the regular season. “Added 20 pounds of muscle!” and, “Look at those handles!” and, “He’s practicing threes!!!” are to basketball analysis what the Macarena and Chicken Dance are to parties. Everybody rolls their eyes, but almost everyone participates.
Portland Trail Blazers All-Star guard Damian Lillard has been noticeably absent from the summer video workout furor. While teammate CJ McCollum ran with Carmelo Anthony and big men Jusuf Nurkic and Meyers Leonard showed off individual workouts, Lillard remained camera shy.