Last season seemed to suggest that the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/miami-heat">Miami Heat</a> only need another superstar to win the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba">NBA</a> championship. That’s why <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/damian-lillard">Damian Lillard</a> has become their priority target this offseason.



The timing couldn’t be better, since the guard is also ready to leave the Portland Trail Blazers after many years. The teams have to reach an agreement, but Dame has reportedly made it clear he only wants to join the Heat.



Many were surprised to see Lillard give up on the Blazers, after sticking to them through thick and thin. Gary Payton, however, completely understands Lillard as he felt the same way back in the day.



<h2>Gary Payton supports Damian Lillard’s intention to join the Heat</h2>



“Everybody should chase a championship. Why are we playing basketball? That is the whole object of playing basketball,” Payton told Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel.



“If you want to go somewhere else if you’ve got a chance to win a championship, go there. And that’s what I saw when I came to Miami. So I came here, look what happened.”


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Payton, who spent more than a decade with the Seattle SuperSonics, won his first and only ring with Miami in 2006. Dame knows that his championship window won’t last forever, so this could be the perfect moment to join a contender like the Heat.

Former NBA champion with Heat supports Damian Lillard's desire to join Miami - Bolavip US

Former NBA champion with Heat supports Damian Lillard's desire to join Miami

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One of the many things that made <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/kobe-bryant-t127173" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kobe Bryant </a>stand out from the rest of the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba-t19117" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NBA </a>players was his confidence. Not only he believed that he was better than anybody else but he worked harder every day to accomplish that goal and lead the<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/los-angeles-lakers-t101482" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Los Angeles Lakers</a> to the top of the world.
No one ever questioned Kobe’s talent or work ethic. His character, however, was a different story. He was known for being a tough teammate and his personality reportedly drove multiple stars away from considering playing for the purple and gold.
As a matter of fact, it seems like the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/michael-jordan-reveals-the-final-conversation-had-with-kobe-bryant-20210512-0004.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hall of Famer</a> wasn’t even beloved around his peers when he first entered the league, as he was way overconfident and arrogant before even playing a game in the NBA, according to Gary Payton.
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<h2>Gary Payton Says NBA Veterans Hated Kobe Bryant</h2>
“Kobe came in real arrogant. He was a high school kid coming in there talking about he gonna be the greatest, he’s gonna be one of the greatest basketball players. When he went to the Lakers, it started off when he forced Charlotte to trade… to the Lakers, so it is what it was, man… Them OGs was like, Man, who does this kid think he is, making people do this and that.’… So I just say, yeah, a lot of people were really against him, because of how he acted, but I loved it. He had an attitude, he had a dog to it,“ Payton told Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson.
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Kobe knew that he was poised for greatness from day one but he didn’t just wait for things to happen. He embraced every single challenge and hurdle and worked his way to the top, eventually earning the respect and admiration of his colleagues.
At the end of the day, Bryant finished his career as one of the greatest players to ever do it, and those who questioned him had no choice but to tip their hat off to him and give him his flowers.

Gary Payton

Former NBA champion with Heat supports Damian Lillard's desire to join Miami

Gary Payton reveals NBA veterans really hated Kobe Bryant