Milwaukee Bucks point guard Damian Lillard is considered one of the greatest basketball players in NBA history. After an injury sidelined him in his junior college season, he came back stronger and was named Big Sky Conference MVP and NBA Rookie of the Year in 2013. His career has only grown since, with seven All-Star team selections and a 2020 Olympic gold medal to his name. Lillard embraces hard work off the court too, whether he’s embarking on a side career as a rapper or establishing his RESPECT Program (whose motto is “Show Up, Work Hard, and Be Kind”), which encourages attendance and kindness among high schoolers. Here, he reminds us that while our behind-the-scenes efforts may seem thankless now, they’re crucial to our future success.