Dame Time was back in Portland and it was worth the wait

It's always exciting for sports fans to get to witness unique moments in athletes' careers. Whether it's a record-breaking performance or a city's beloved star having a memorable night. The Portland Trail Blazers were fortunate enough to witness Damian Lillard in "Dame Time" more than a handful of times throughout his time with the franchise, from 2012-13 to 2022-23.And while it seemed Blazers fans had witnessed Lillard's final explosive performance after a trade that sent him to the Milwaukee Bucks, Tuesday proved that wasn't the case. After missing a full season in 2025-26 due to injury, Lillard's return to Portland has been an enjoyable sight for NBA fans this year.While For The Win's own Bryan Kalbrosky did a great job breaking down the reactions to Dame's logo three-pointer against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night, his teammate Donovan Clingan certainly knew what time it was."THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THESE PEOPLE CAME TO SEE TONIGHT IN PORTLAND!"DAME HAD THE CROWD ON THEIR FEET AND CLINGAN DOING THE DAME TIME CELLY ⌚️ https://t.co/m54shPCaAapic.twitter.com/IGEsc3hENe— NBA (@NBA) November 11, 2026Clingan, grinning from ear to ear, can be seen doing Lillard's famous "Dame Time" celebration after that bucket. Not surprisingly, the Blazers' official X account was on top of it, posting the clip and saying to "get the watch out." Even more impressive was the fact that Lillard had it going from the start against the Thunder, treating fans to a full-fledged "Dame Time" performance.Damian Lillard highlights vs. the Oklahoma City Thunder tonightWE GOT DAME TIME pic.twitter.com/ul3f7o0tkY— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) November 11, 2026The revival of Dame Time in Portland is one of the NBA's best stories, and the fact that it's this city— with the star who pushed off a trade for years to stay a Blazer— makes it even cooler.Lillard finished the 123-103 victory over the Thunder with 25 points, three assists and three rebounds in 24 minutes.This article originally appeared on For The Win: Dame Time was back in Portland and it was worth the wait