With the first two games of the NBA's Western Conference Finals between the Golden State Warriors and Portland Trail Blazers having been held in Oakland, Calif., it meant that former Weber State star Damian Lillard returned to his hometown as the Blazers' leader.
As such, a number of pieces were written over the past few days detailing Lillard's relationship with the city. ESPN's Tim MacMahon wrote that Oakland may be losing Oracle Arena, the longtime home of the Warriors, but it "will always have Dame," while The Athletic's Marcus Thompson wrote how Lillard will be the last Oakland-bred star to play at the arena.