WEBER, Utah – Former Weber State University point guard and current NBA player Damian Lillard received the key to Ogden City on Saturday.
Lillard was an NBA first-round draft pick as well as the NBA’s Rookie of the Year, and Saturday some 500 Ogden-area fans showed up to celebrate as Lillard was given the key to the city.
Lillard said getting the key was especially fulfilling because of the work he’s put into his career.
“It’s special, especially coming from where I come from, and I always say that because it’s really been a long time coming,” he said. “There’s been a lot of hard work, and just to see that it’s all paid off after everything my parents put into me and the type of person they’ve always pushed me to be, how hard I’ve worked—this is definitely a blessing to come do something like this.”
Lillard said he is pleased with what he’s done so far, but he said he focuses on his goals more than his accomplishments.
“You work harder,” he said. “It’s easy to be complacent and be satisfied with being Rookie of the Year and having a great rookie season, but when you want more for yourself, you challenge yourself to do better and you want to work harder, and you want more for yourself. ”
Lillard also spoke about his position on Team USA for the Olympic Games and his love for the international competition.
“It’s a great opportunity for me,” he said. “I’ve always loved watching the Olympics… Next month is when I’ll be up there for the three-day camp, and I couldn’t even tell you how excited I am to be a part of it. As a kid I loved it, like I said. It’s just a great honor to have that opportunity to represent our country.”
