Portland Trailblazers point guard Damian Lillard has teamed up with Adidas to launch the Visionary Academy internship program. Personally funded by Lillard, the internship program will provide six student-athletes with a four month internship in their area. In addition to funding an internship program, Lillard will release his Adidas Dame 7 shoe with a "visionary" color theme. One shoe will be blue and the other will be red, but both will have his first name written across the bottom of the shoe.
“Visionary means being able to see a place for something that can be impactful before it’s right in front of you,” he said.
“Being able to see it, and recognizing ways to creatively have that impact. I’m here to be a leader and show younger people the way.”
The Visionary Academy is an extension of the Adidas Legacy program. Through Lillard's program, students will participate in sports media and digital marketing projects and experience. For the first year, all activities will be held virtually.
“I’m just at that point in my life and in my career where I realize the value of how I see things, how I operate and try to bring things to life,” Lillard said about his motivation to start the internship program.
"When you get to that point, you want to create something for other people to follow. You also want to inspire them and encourage them to grow.”
While students participate in the program, Lillard will check-in from time to time. At the same time, he will kickstart the NBA season. Like the rest of the league, the Portland Trailblazers will start the 2020-2021 NBA season in December.
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