Damian Lillard has stepped into a management position with his alma mater, announcing on Saturday that he will serve as the general manager for the Weber State men’s basketball team. This move marks the latest example of an active <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/basketball/nba/”>NBA player becoming involved in college basketball operations, highlighting Lillard’s commitment to supporting the program where his career began.
Lillard revealed the news while attending Weber State’s annual Basketball Alumni Classic, where he spent approximately 90 minutes signing autographs. Following that, he spoke to attendees about his enthusiasm for continuing his connection with the university.
Focused on Growth and Mentorship at Weber State
The details of Lillard’s role remain limited, but Weber State has confirmed that he will work closely alongside coach Eric Duft, the coaching staff, and athletic department leadership. His goal is to provide mentorship and guidance to the players by drawing from his experience at both the collegiate and professional levels, helping the Wildcats progress on and off the court.
“It’s something that, my relationship with coach (Eric) Duft and this program means a lot to me, and seeing the success of the program means a lot to me,”
Lillard said.
“I feel like I can do a lot to help the program be successful, to help the players even individually continue to grow their careers past college, that’s something that I’m passionate about.”
—Damian Lillard, GM, Weber State Basketball
Lillard’s history at Weber State is distinguished. He earned conference Player of the Year honors twice and finished his college career as the second-leading scorer in school history, accumulating 1,934 points. In the broader Big Sky Conference, he ranks fifth all-time.
Commitment to Building Lasting Success
Lillard expressed excitement about leveraging his resources to benefit the Wildcats while they are part of the program and beyond their college years. His involvement is expected to bring renewed prestige and momentum to a program that ended last season with a 12-22 record.
“All of the resources that I have, I’ve got an opportunity to be able to create for the program, while they’re in the program and even after the program, it’s something I’m excited about,”
Lillard said.
“I’m looking forward to doing that work, looking forward to continue to lift up the university, lift up the program. It’s going to be fun.”
—Damian Lillard, GM, Weber State Basketball
Lillard’s Offseason and the Trend of NBA Players in College Roles
This appointment comes during a busy offseason for Lillard, who recovered from a torn Achilles suffered in the playoffs. After Milwaukee waived and stretched his contract, he secured a three-year deal with the Portland Trail Blazers, affirming his ongoing NBA career.
Lillard’s choice to join Weber State’s staff follows a growing movement of NBA players taking up leadership roles in college basketball. Stephen Curry was among the first in March to become an assistant general manager at Davidson. Other active players like Trae Young with Oklahoma, Terance Mann at Florida State, and Patty Mills at Hawai’i have since accepted similar roles, indicating a new bridge between professional and collegiate basketball.