Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers’ star, said that he would like to remain with the team that drafted him in 2012. He also stated that this offseason will be used to strengthen and get healthier.

Lillard is also planning to start a new venture while he works on that.

Lillard spoke with CNBC Monday to discuss his desire to remain in Portland. MoveHe co-founded ‘Move,’ a performance footwear brand for insoles, with Nate Jones, his business partner. Move was launched in December. The company has already generated over $100,000 through direct-to consumer sales and expects to make $1 million by 2022.

Lillard stated that the product was “tailored for sports and athletes.” Move also said that it aims to assist basketball players in avoiding foot injuries, such as plantar faciitis. Lillard had suffered this injury earlier in his NBA tenure.

“[Young athletes]Lillard said that it was necessary to put on this shirt because of the demands made by being an athlete. Lillard said, “It is harder on.” [younger players]I was the one who did it.”

Lillard hasn’t played since January because he is still recovering from his adnominal surgery. Lillard played just 29 games for the first time in his professional career. Lillard, a Weber State graduate, averaged 24 and 7.3 points this season. In February, he was honored with the title of “Liga’s Greatest Player” to commemorate his achievements. NBA’s 75th anniversary.

Lillard saw the Blazers undergo a difficult transition in 2021-22 NBA Season after there was uncertainty about his future. He wants to remain.

Lillard stated, “I don’t have any plans to not be a Portland Trail Blazer.” Lillard stated, “I would like to be here and they want me there.”

Terry Stotts, the Blazers’ former coach, was fired last year. The team CEO Chris McGowan resigned last November,A month later, Blazers made their way to the front. basketball executive Neil OlsheyFollowing allegations of workplace misconduct.

The Blazers traded Blazers star C.J. McCollum went to New Orleans Pelicans, to make room for salary caps. Then, last month, the team shut down Lillard for the remainder of the season and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2012-13 – Lillard’s rookie year.

Lillard was asked to explain his 10th NBA Season in one word.

“I feel born again – health-wise and mentally,” he said.

Lillard, who signed a $176 million extension in 2019, will be making $42million next season. SpotracA website which tracks contracts in sports, is. Lillard is also eligible to sign a new extension worth $100 million this summer. Lillard’s average annual value (or AAV) would rise to $50 million per season.

Lillard warned about naysayers, media speculation regarding his future.

Everyone is like “He’s going do that.” Lillard stated, “He’s going do that.” However, the game is so fake and watered-down that even though you speak directly to people, they won’t believe you.

Though Lillard wants to stay with the Blazers, asked if he would accept a trade, he responded: “If they came to me and they wanted to trade me – I’m not going to fight them on wanting to trade me. I won’t be going anywhere else if I don’t have to. “But I doubt that this is true.”

According to Lillard, Lillard earns approximately $15 million off the court in endorsements. Forbes.Brand deals are included in agreements Anheuser-Busch‘s Modelo brand, DisneyHulu owned by a company, as well as a reportedA $100 million deal with a sneaker company Adidas.

Lillard co-owns Players TV on the investment side. Players TV launched in 2020 on Samsung TV Plus. Damian Lillard is also his property. ToyotaOregon. He goes by the name Dame D.O.L.L.A. in his musical career.

Lillard now focuses on the building of Move. Lillard claimed Jones proposed the idea of building the insoles brand. Jones said, “As soon we discussed it, I thought of my own foot injuries”

Lillard spoke of the struggles he had with plantar faciitis during his early career. This injury is caused by inflammation in the tissue around the heel of your foot. It can also be caused when you wear insufficient insoles on sneakers. Lillard pointed out that the problem is athletes’ lack of self-care and awareness with regards to their feet.

Lillard stated, “It’s worse now,” referring to young athletes who often play year round to increase their exposure and skill sets. It’s important that they are able to be ahead in these areas. This was my major marketing opportunity. It could not only be part of a business plan, but it also had a huge impact on many young athletes’ health.

Jones works as an agent for Lillard at Goodwin Sports Management and is also an athlete marketer. Jones was also a cofounder and chief executive at Move. Jones stated that the company has a relationship with Florida-based companies. Footcare ExpressThe well-known clinic of podiatry used by the NBA to make custom insoles.

With its last-year’s move, Game Day and Game Day ProJones also added that it was a performance-equipment company.

Global market research company, Market Research Company estimates that the footwear insoles market will reach $4.5 Billion by 2027. The dominant player is Merck’s Dr. Scholls. Fortune Business Insights. Jones stated that name-brand shoe companies do not target young athletes in terms of foot care. This white space could be a benefit to Move’s development, he said.

Jones reported that Move had made $120,000 worth of sales during December. Move converts 5% traffic to customers through its website. Move also uses social media for awareness. It has not spent any funds on consumer acquisition or substantial promotion.

Jones commented, “And the reaction we’ve received so far tells us we’re getting traction.” “Introducing Dame to the current market, the potential market, and how we’re going about it in a different way – and telling a story to parents and kids about why pro athletes swear by [specialized insoles] – Dame was onboard.”

Move has decided to target younger players in basketball and shift its focus towards volleyball.

Jones explained that there are many sports startups out there, and they fail because they do not try to offer too many services to everyone. Our focus is on basketball and we plan to organically expand our reach into other sports. There’s also a lot of crossover between volleyball and basketball.”

The Phoenix Suns star Chris Paul, Jamal Crawford (ex-NBA guard) and Aaron Goodwin (prominent sports agent), are some of the other investors. Their terms of investments weren’t disclosed. Jones stated that Move would like to raise another $2 million in order to grow the business.

Lillard stated that the Stage of My Career in which I am, is about more than just me looking for an opportunity. “I want to have my business cap on – but a lot of my [business]It’s all about the impact. From my own experience, I can tell you that this will have a significant impact on athletes and help them a lot.