Damian Lillard (Part 2)

In his rookie season with the Portland Trail Blazers, Damian Lillard made an immediate impact, showcasing his talent and earning numerous accolades. In the season opener against the Los Angeles Lakers, Lillard recorded an impressive stat line of 23 points and 11 assists, joining the ranks of NBA legends Oscar Robertson and Allen Iverson as the only players to achieve at least 20 points and 10 assists in their NBA debut. His 11 assists in the game set a new record for most assists by an NBA rookie in their debut and were also the most ever by a Trail Blazer in their NBA debut.


Throughout the season, Lillard continued to impress, setting records and achieving milestones. Notably, he scored a career-high 37 points against the Golden State Warriors, making a rookie-record seven 3-pointers in the process. He also became the first Trail Blazer to win an event at the NBA All-Star Weekend, clinching victory in the Skills Challenge.
On March 8, Lillard made history by becoming the first NBA rookie to record 35 points, nine assists, and zero turnovers in a game since turnovers became a stat in 1978–79. He further solidified his status as a standout rookie by scoring a season-high 38 points against the Lakers on April 10.


Lillard's consistent performance earned him Western Conference Rookie of the Month honors for every month of the season, making him one of only eight players to achieve this feat since the inception of the award. He finished the season ranked fifth in the NBA in 3-pointers made, 12th in points per game, and tied for 16th in assists per game.
With impressive averages of 19.0 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game, Lillard not only claimed the NBA Rookie of the Year Award but also became just the fourth player in NBA history to win the award unanimously, joining the ranks of basketball greats like Blake Griffin, David Robinson, and Ralph Sampson. He also joined Robertson and Iverson as the only rookies to tally over 1,500 points and 500 assists in a season.
Lillard's remarkable rookie campaign saw him break multiple records, including the all-time NBA rookie record for 3-pointers in a season and becoming the Portland franchise leader for most 3-point field goals in a season. Additionally, he became the first rookie to lead the NBA in total minutes played since Elvin Hayes in 1968–69, showcasing his durability and impact on the court.


During the 2013-2014 NBA season, Damian Lillard continued to shine for the Portland Trail Blazers, showcasing his scoring ability and leadership on the court.
In the season opener against the Phoenix Suns, Lillard put up an impressive 32 points, setting the tone for a strong start to the season. He repeated this feat with another 32-point performance against the Dallas Mavericks on December 7th. One of his standout performances came on December 17th against the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he recorded 36 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds. The following day, he followed up with another 36-point effort against the Minnesota Timberwolves.


On January 7th, in a game against the Sacramento Kings, Lillard had a career-high scoring outburst, tallying 41 points, including 26 in the fourth quarter alone. His remarkable performance set a new franchise record for the most points scored in any quarter in Trail Blazers history.
Continuing his impressive season, Lillard contributed a 38-point effort against the Indiana Pacers on February 7th, further solidifying his status as one of the league's premier scorers.
Lillard's consistency and leadership were evident as he started all 82 games for the second consecutive year, averaging 20.7 points, 5.6 assists, and 3.5 rebounds per game. His stellar play helped guide the Trail Blazers to a 54-28 record, securing the fifth seed in the competitive Western Conference.


In the 2014 NBA playoffs, Lillard made a significant impact from the start. In Game 1 of the first-round series against the Houston Rockets, he delivered a stellar performance with 31 points and nine rebounds, leading Portland to an overtime victory. However, it was in Game 6 where Lillard etched his name in playoff lore. With a buzzer-beating three-pointer as time expired, Lillard secured a thrilling win for the Trail Blazers, making him the first player to hit a series-winning buzzer-beater since John Stockton in 1997.
Despite falling to the San Antonio Spurs in the second round of the playoffs, Lillard's contributions throughout the season did not go unnoticed. He was honored with a selection to the All-NBA Third Team, further cementing his status as one of the league's top players.

References

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11. ^ "Lillard scores 43 as Blazers beat Spurs in 3 OT". NBA.com. December 19, 2014. Archived from the original on June 10, 2016. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
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