You Know Portland’s Vegan-Crazy When Damian Lillard Joins the Ranks

Portland is consumed by plant-based eating right now (or vice versa), and in the latest proof the vegan lifestyle is entering a more mainstream arena, star basketball player for the Portland Trail Blazers Damian Lillard went vegan earlier this month.

In a recent video interview with the O, Lillard said he made the decision because he wanted “to play lighter” on his feet in order to put less stress on his body. He also snuck in a shoutout to what is “probably” his “favorite restaurant,” Harlow, the beloved Hawthorne spot sister-restaurant to Prasad. (If you want to try it out, start with the Urban Bowl, which tops the usual mix of greens, steamed kale, avocado, and other veggies with cabbage-apple kimchi, "sea vegetables," and a potent selection of sauces.)

Many athletes have been taking the vegan route to improve performance, including Arizona Cardinals football player David Carter and Tennis powerhouse Venus Williams. If Lillard’s video interview is any indicator, the Blazers star isn’t heading back to meat anytime soon.

Wondering what else Dame is eating? Here he is presiding over a vegan feast in a video he published on Instagram:

• Trail Blazers’ Damian Lillard is apparently a vegan now [NBC Sports]
• Watch: Trail Blazers' Damian Lillard discusses his vegan diet [Oregonian]
• These athletes went vegan — and stayed strong [Washington Post]