Damian Lillard on Meeting Michael Jordan: “That’s the GOAT”

Damian Lillard has faced NBA legends on the court, but when it came to Michael Jordan, even he was starstruck. On the Knuckleheads Podcast (Episode 190, November 2023), Lillard recalled a moment from the NBA’s 75th Anniversary celebration that cemented MJ’s untouchable presence.

Surrounded by all-time greats, Lillard said the atmosphere shifted the second Jordan appeared. “We walk out, take the big picture, and in the hallway you see MJ walking towards us,” Dame explained. “There’s more cameras on just him alone than on all of us. That’s when you really saw the difference. Like—‘Man, this dude the GOAT.’”

Despite standing just feet away, Lillard admitted he never introduced himself. Instead, he simply stared. “I was next to Clyde Drexler, looking at his arms, his hands. I just kept thinking, ‘Damn. That’s Jordan.’ I ain’t say nothing the whole time.”

The story resonated with fans because it wasn’t about stats—it was about presence. Even as a Top 75 player himself, Lillard admitted what most already know: in the eyes of players and fans alike, there’s still only one true GOAT.