Damian Lillard delivers succinct 3-word reaction to Raiders' loss to LA Chargers
With the Milwaukee Bucks enjoying their offseason, Damian Lillard, a longtime Las Vegas Raiders supporter, couldn’t be more excited. “Dame Time,” like thousands of football fans, greeted Week 1 of the NFL with anticipation. For Lillard, he wanted to see how his Raiders would fare against the Jim Harbaugh-coached LA Chargers.
The Raiders took a 7-3 first-quarter lead after Gardner Minshew’s touchdown pass to Alexander Mattison. But it went downhill from there as Minshew and Co. wouldn’t get on the board until late in the fourth quarter. The Chargers won 22-10 in Harbaugh’s return to the NFL.
Damian Lillard didn’t hold back and posted this on X, formerly Twitter:
“Fu**in Raiders man”
Lillard’s opinion oozed with disappointment. The point guard has been supporting the team since it was based in Oakland, the basketball star’s hometown. After another offseason of hope, it seems like the Raiders are back to their usual form.
Since losing Super Bowl XXXVII to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2002, the Raiders have made the playoffs just twice. Both times, they lost in the Wild Card round (2016 and 2021).
Damian Lillard, like most Raiders fans, must have found it tough to name one area where the team really excelled. The three-word reaction captured the supporters’ frustrations. Anthony Pierce’s team was overwhelmed in so many different areas on the field. They repeatedly shot themselves in the foot with poor execution on defense and offense.
Damian Lillard threw in his support when the Raiders named Antonio Pierce head coach
Antonio Pierce took over from Josh McDaniels as head coach after the Las Vegas Raiders opened last season with a 3-5 record. Damian Lillard was inevitably asked his opinion about the team’s move to name Pierce the interim coach.
The Milwaukee Bucks star had this to say about Pierce taking over the team’s reins:
“I rock with AP, I rock with AP man. I’m a super fan of player coaches because I feel like they can relate more than anything. They lived it, they won at the highest level, you can tell the players respect him.”
The Las Vegas Raiders finished the season with an 8-9 record and missed the playoffs again. Despite Pierce now having a full training camp and preseason as head coach, the Raiders continue to disappoint.
Roughly six months after showing excitement about Antonio Pierce handling the Raiders, Damian Lillard is back expressing disappointment.
There is still plenty of football left to be played as it is only opening week. Lillard’s fans and Raiders supporters will be interested to see if the NBA star’s opinion will change in Week 2.
Up next for the Raiders will be two-time and reigning MVP Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens. Many will not be surprised if Lillard’s saltiness will continue after his team visits the Super Bowl contender.