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Damian LillardAmerican basketball player, player for the NBA club Portland Trail Blazers
Date of Birth: 15.07.1990
Country:  USA |
Content:
High School and College Career
Damian Lillard spent his high school years at Oakland High School in Oakland, California. After graduating, he attended Weber State University, where he played for the Wildcats. In his freshman season, he averaged 11.5 points per game, showcasing promise. In his sophomore year, he vastly improved, averaging 19.9 points per game and earning Big Sky Conference Player of the Year honors. However, an injury cut his 2010-2011 season short.
NBA Career
Portland Trail Blazers (2012-Present)2012-13: Rookie of the Year
Lillard was selected with the 6th overall pick by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2012 NBA Draft. In his debut game against the Los Angeles Lakers, he recorded an impressive 23 points and 11 assists, joining Oscar Robertson and Allen Iverson as the only players in NBA history to achieve 20 points and 10 assists in their debut game. In a game against the Golden State Warriors, he set a personal scoring record of 37 points and broke the team's rookie record for three-pointers. He was named to the Rising Stars Challenge, where he scored 18 points and won the Skills Challenge.
On March 8, Lillard became the first rookie in NBA history to record 35 points, 9 assists, and 0 turnovers since turnovers became an official statistic in 1978-79. He set a new career-high with 38 points against the Lakers on April 10. Lillard swept the Western Conference Rookie of the Month awards, becoming one of only eight players in history to do so. He ended the season as the 5th-leading three-point shooter, 12th in points per game, 16th in assists per game, and 23rd in free throw percentage. With averages of 19.0 points, 3.1 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 0.9 steals, and 38.6 minutes per game over 82 starts, Lillard not only won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award but also joined Blake Griffin (2011), David Robinson (1990), and Ralph Sampson (1984) as unanimous winners.
