When Damian Lillard was a lightly recruited junior point guard in Oakland, Randy Rahe was a mid-major college coach trying to fill out his roster. Even after larger schools became aware of the future NBA superstar, Lillard remained loyal to the first coach to recruit him and went on to become a two-time Big Sky Conference player of the year at Weber State in Ogden, Utah.
This weekend, Lillard will return to Utah for the NBA’s All-Star weekend in Salt Lake City, just 35 miles south of Ogden.
Rahe, who retired last season as the winningest coach in Big Sky Conference history, joined Bill Oram and Andrew Theen on this week’s episode of Sports by Northwest to discuss the unique relationship Lillard maintains with the state of Utah and especially fans in Ogden and what he expects to see from his former star in what amounts to a homecoming game.
Here are some highlights from this week’s show:
· How Rahe thinks Lillard will be received in Utah after a decade spent carving up the Jazz defense.
· The story of Lillard’s recruitment to Weber State, including a legend about a headband.
· On what the Blazers need to build a winning team around Lillard while he’s playing the best baskeball of his life.
· Why Rahe thinks Lillard might have an All-Star MVP in him this weekend.
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