Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers only make one trip to Philadelphia during the regular season and Sixers fans weren't about to let an opportunity slip by.
Widely viewed as the dream trade return in any potential Ben Simmons deal, the Portland star found some rare support from Philly fans while making a trip to the free-throw line early in the first quarter.
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"We want Lillard! We want Lillard!," the crowd chanted just minutes into the game.
"We want Lillard!"
— The Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) November 1, 2021
Sixers fans with the chants early vs. Portland 👀 pic.twitter.com/5T78LvvlOO
Lillard became a topic of trade rumors during the offseason, though the six-time All-Star has maintained his longtime public stance that he wants to stay with the Portland franchise in pursuit of a long-awaited championship.
MORE: Will Lillard stay with the Trail Blazers? What the Portland star has said on trade rumors
Lillard recently doubled down on his loyalty to the franchise during a freestyle on "Bars On I-95."
Lillard is off to an unusually cool start to the 2021-22 season, averaging just 18.3 points per game on 34 percent shooting from the field and 23 percent from 3-point land. It's only been six games, but the scoring average and struggles with efficiency would be career lows for the 31-year-old in his tenth season.
Philadelphia is off to a 4-2 start despite Simmons' continued absence from the lineup.
