Utah Jazz: Damian Lillard calls Ed Davis his favorite teammate of all time

Damian Lillard recently called Ed Davis his favorite teammate of all time, which should be a reassuring fact for Utah Jazz fans.

If there’s one player outside of their own team that Utah Jazz fans most adore, there’s a good chance that it’s Damian Lillard. For one thing, he’s about as likable of a guy as they come as a humble warrior who’s both exciting to watch and great on and off the court.

Not to mention, he also played his college basketball at Weber State in Ogden, Utah which gives him a local connection. He once stated that the Jazz are one of two teams he’d want to play for if the Portland Trail Blazers no longer wanted him and he even has a song entitled ‘Wasatch Front.’

He’s good friends with Donovan Mitchell and has been praiseworthy of the franchise and team as a whole on multiple occasions. In other words, while Jazz fans would never cheer for Dame over their own team, he’s a guy they’ll likely always support and pull for in more circumstances than not.

It’s for that very reason that his views and opinions are widely respected by Jazz Nation. And a recent one will likely make the Utah faithful quite excited and reassured. Dame is known for being interactive on Twitter, and when a fan recently asked him who his favorite teammate of all time is, he responded with a familiar name. Namely, one of the Jazz’s newest additions – Ed Davis.

Davis played for the Blazers alongside Damian Lillard for three seasons from 2015-18. He had some great years there as an energy guy and a rebounder, but more importantly he showed an ability to bond with the team’s star and be a beloved member of the locker room.

That bodes extremely well for what he ought to bring to the Utah Jazz.

Davis has already looked like an exceptional fit as a relentless rebounder, a determined hustler and a guy who just wants to do what’s best for his team. Since joining the squad, he’s had nothing but praise for the Jazz, going as far as saying that joining them was his best shot at a championship, and has made it clear that he’s here to play the right way and put team above everything.

That selflessness and willingness to give his all was on full display in preseason. While Davis has some work to do in order to be the defensive presence the Jazz will need him to be when Rudy Gobert goes to the bench, he showed exceptional effort and heart, and it’s evident that he’ll be a seamless fit for the Jazz.

He may be Damian Lillard’s all-time favorite teammate and perhaps that won’t change, but I have a feeling he’s going to climb the lists of many of his new Jazz teammates and probably Jazz fans in general in the process.

Davis doesn’t figure to be a leader in minutes played by any stretch of the imagination. But his calling card is doing the dirty work, making extra effort plays that lead to additional points, and constantly playing winning basketball with smart decisions. I can almost guarantee that the culmination of those traits will produce Jazz wins that would have otherwise resulted in losses without Davis’ impact.

That in and of itself is undoubtedly a big reason why he built such a meaningful relationship with Damian Lillard. And I’m certain it will also endear him to Utah Jazz fans in no time at all.