Coronavirus: Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard says he will not play meaningless NBA games

It's looking very optimistic for the resumption of the 2019-20 NBA season at some point in July with every game in the "bubble" of Disney World in Orlando. Earlier on Tuesday, NBA Players' Association executive director Michele Roberts said from the information she has gathered from virtual calls that the "overwhelming" sentiment has been that "the (players) really want to play." And most surely do. Just not Portland Trail Blazers All-Star guard Damian Lillard if his team has no chance at the playoffs.

There should be clarity on the NBA's plan Friday as that's when the leagues' board of governors has a meeting. Will Commissioner Adam Silver try and bring all 30 teams to Orlando to finish off a semblance of the regular season? Many teams must play 70 games to fulfill local TV contracts or they risk losing even more money.

Will Silver simply go with the 16 teams currently that would make the playoffs? Or some sort of play-in tournament for those clubs just on the outside looking in?

Lillard's Blazers have been a big disappointment this season with a record of 29-37 -- 27-37-2 against the spread -- that is 3.5 games behind the Memphis Grizzlies for the West's final playoff spot. On Tuesday, Lillard talked to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports and was pretty blunt about what he will or won't do.

"If we come back and they're just like, 'We're adding a few games to finish the regular season,' and they're throwing us out there for meaningless games and we don't have a true opportunity to get into the playoffs, I'm going to be with my team because I'm a part of the team. But I'm not going to be participating. I'm telling you that right now. And you can put that [expletive] in there," Lillard said.

He did say that he would be willing to compete in a possible tournament or play-in scenario for the final playoff spots in the West. Portland would be a huge betting underdog if it got the No. 8 seed and had to face the No. 1 Lakers -- although there's no question the Lakers would prefer to face the inexperienced Grizzlies than the Blazers.

Lillard is having arguably his best season, ranking fifth in the NBA in scoring at 28.9 ppg – he has had two 60-point games. Lillard has scored at least 20 points 50 times this season, which is tied for the second-most in the NBA. His 226 three-pointers are the fourth-most in a season in franchise history, and he needs only 12 to break his own mark of 237 set in 2018-19. His 49 three-pointers from 30 feet or further lead the league. 

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