Although the NBA is still his main focus, Damian Lillard would like to be just as accomplished as a musician as he is as a basketball player.
During a recent conversation with TMZ, Lillard said he wouldn't mind being the first NBA player to win a Grammy.
"I don't care about it maybe to the level I care about being the MVP or winning a championship," Lillard said. "But I care about it in the sense of how many NBA All-Stars or max contract players can say, 'I legitimately won a Grammy?'... 'I was really taken serious as an artist.'"
Dame's comments come on the heels of his third studio album, Big D.O.L.L.A., which dropped on Aug. 9. Under the moniker Dame D.O.L.L.A., Lillard released a ten-song project through his Front Page Music independent label, which features artists like Lil Wayne, Jeremih, Mozzy, and more. Although he's not the first athlete to try his hand in music, he does have more credibility than some of his fellow players (sorry, Lonzo).
"I not thirsty for it or searching for it," Dame added. "But, I think like 10-15 years from now, I can look back and be like, 'I really won a Grammy.' Or, 'I really performed at the BET Awards.' Or, 'I really was [the] album of the year.' Stuff like that, I think about stuff like that."
No one would be happier to see Dame get rewarded for his efforts than LeBron James, who has been actively listening to Dame's music and posting it on IG, which isn't lost on Lillard. "I think it all comes down to the support," he said. "I know how big play listing, and being able to get on those playlists is. I've gotten the support from my peers. I know they're listening and really respecting it."
