At the ceremony to announce the award at the Rose Garden Arena, the smartly dressed guard spoke about his upbringing in Oakland and how it shaped him as a hard-working player.

NPR: Damian Lillard Is NBA Rookie Of The Year

That year Allen opened a new arena named the Rose Garden.

FORBES: Magazine Article

He went back to the negotiating table with the Rose Garden creditors and worked out a deal to buy back the arena in 2007.

FORBES: Rebound