Oakland native Damian Lillard says Warriors' SF crowd is 'just not the same'

DALLAS, TEXAS - OCTOBER 27: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers reacts during play against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on October 27, 2019 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) less DALLAS, TEXAS - OCTOBER 27: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers reacts during play against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on October 27, 2019 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User ... more Photo: Ronald Martinez, Getty Images Photo: Ronald Martinez, Getty Images Image 1 of / 10 Caption Close Oakland native Damian Lillard says Warriors' SF crowd is 'just not the same' 1 / 10 Back to Gallery

If there's one thing Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard doesn't mince words about, it's Oakland.

The Oakland native, who has never been shy about his pride in the Town, sounded off on the Warriors leaving his hometown at a shootaround at Chase Center ahead of Monday night's 7:30 p.m. tip-off between Portland and Golden State.

“It’s a different vibe. (I'm) used to coming into Oracle as a kid and as an NBA player and it looks a certain way and it don’t look like that, it’s definitely different,” Lillard told reporters. "It just rubbed me wrong. Like, I’ve watched games here and the crowd is just not the same. People leaving games early, where’s the pride?”

A product of St. Joseph Notre Dame High School in Alameda and Oakland High, Lillard said both the Warriors' and the Raiders' decisions to leave felt financially motivated.

“Warriors go across the bridge, Raiders going to Vegas, it’s almost like the money grab, the money moves is kinda like pushing the real love and what’s really behind these organizations to the side, which is understandable, but also not understandable because I’m from Oakland," he said. "You hate to see it. I don’t like it.”

One thing he may like a bit more is the Warriors team he'll face at Chase Center, one that will be without All-Stars Steph Curry (broken hand), Klay Thompson (torn ACL), and Draymond Green (torn finger ligament).

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A year removed from ousting the Trail Blazers in the 2019 Western Conference Finals, the Warriors have started the season at 1-5 and currently sit 14th in the Western Conference — a status that Lillard called "unexpected."

“To see them go from being such a huge deal, super team, to one guy leaves, injuries, it's just an unfortunate situation, he said. "It’s just different, kind of weird to see them not as ‘the Warriors.’”

Grant Marek is the Editorial Director of SFGATE. Email: grant.marek@sfgate.com | Twitter: @grant_marek