So I was like, Man, Im going to do it for Jim Taylor. So I sat there and did it. How much does Damian Lillard make? (AP Photo/Steve Dykes) APAP. And that was just so impressive to me.. Its inspiring. During his freshman season, he averaged 12.5 points. The Pelicans also will be without guard Jose Alvarado (lower leg) and forward Larry Nance Jr. (ankle). All Rights Reserved. For the Wildcats, Lillard averaged 22.4 points per game, 5.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists during his senior season. So, I live for the moments when Im taking over and dominating games, but I dont live for the stuff that comes afterwards, Lillard said. The Blazers play at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Golden State. So, Lillard backed off from scoring. He worked into the Arroyo High varsity starting lineup as a 5-foot-5 freshman, but once it became clear his coach would not return, Lillard searched for a new school. He played college basketball for the Weber State Wildcats and earned third-team All-American honors in 2012. I was in a bad spot. Passing Clyde Drexler: Ive always said I wanted to be the best | Is he the greatest Trail Blazer of all time? Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited. When we started to see stuff like that, I think thats when it started it got serious. After being selected by Portland with the sixth overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft, Lillard was unanim Hey Seanny J: Whatd you think of NBA All-Star Weekend. He connected on 22 of 38 field goal attempts while making 13 of 22 threes and sinking 14 of 14 free throws. Houston started double teaming more aggressively, sending two defenders to greet Lillard at the half-court line, a tactic that backfired when Lillard continually hit open teammates on the Blazers first five possessions. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. He looked calm and cool while propped against the headboard of his bed, but after he was done critiquing everyone in sight, those players wanted to hide under the covers. From Damon Stoudamire to Damian Lillard, he has covered the team for over two decades. Im next and Im going to do the same thing. Dame, Dame Time, Big Game Dame, Sub Zero, Logo Lillard, Dame D.O.L.L.A. Damian Lillard on Twitter: "Shoutout to McDaniel High School's RESPECT Student of The Month, Mekai Anderson. The team has not yet made a decision on when Lillard will return to the court. He even staged his own rap performance for the high schoolers there, as he makes rap music under the alias Dame D.O.L.L.A. This is the second time Lillard has surpassed 60 points this season and the fifth time for his career. NBA: Whose NBA All-Star Game debut performance promises a future All-Star MVP? Portland Trail Blazers, 1st round (6th pick, 6th overall), 2012 NBA Draft, More Damian Lillard pages at Sports Reference. But as his Oakland High School coach Orlando Watkins recently told NBA on TNT, Lillard launching long-distance shots at the end of games is nothing new. To him, backing up his talk underscored his underdog journey from lightly recruited high schooler to being named one of the NBAs Top 75 greatest players of all time. Were playing McClymonds and we went on to go undefeated that year and win state, and Dame pulled up from right inside half court to tie the game and he had missed that same shot about a minute sooner. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! Damian Lillard sits on a bleacher inside the Portland Trail Blazers practice facility and romances about his hometown. It comes as no surprise that Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard is one of the all-time best NBA players. I did the urine test yesterday and they backed it up with the blood draw tonight after the game and it was actually the first time in my career being tested after a game. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. I mean, that boy is fearless. He just wasnt forcing at all, Billups said. Living with the price of being Damian Lillard, More than a Trail Blazer in Portland: Im where I need to be, Damian Lillard and Bradley Beal, an NBA superstar friendship built around loyalty, Recognizing the moment of truth that defines Dame Time, Its about Dame Time: Insight into his late-game magic, I just go for it: Trail Blazers Damian Lillard and his feeling when he gets hot, From rage to redemption: The night they roared in Rip City, Damian Lillard and Chef B: How his 61-point masterpiece got help from above. amian Lillard has taken the NBA by storm as one of the biggest deep threats the league He helped lead the school to a 21-10 record, 15-1 in the Big Sky Conference during the 2007-08 season. The former three-star still leads Weber State in career 3-pointers, free throws and free throw percentage. The Blazers trail the sixth-place Mavericks by two games. Ever. This past year, he received the Magic Johnson Award for demonstrating excellence on and off the court while also demonstrating respect for the media and the general public. I grew up in East Oakland, it was tough there, Lillard says. 1990 To Lillard, his art is his journey. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). Neither do we. McDaniel Highs TaKwain Montgomery is the epitome of Show Up, Work Hard and Be Kind. Still, he scored 20 or more points for the 22nd consecutive appearance. Damian Lillard was born in Oakland, California. His senior year saw him put up 22.4 points per game, and he was named First Team All-League. Lillards performance was so special that even league officials took notice and randomly drug tested him immediately after the contest. In what may come as a surprise to many, NBA superstar Damian Lillard did not attend a big-time college basketball program. But please consider that Lillard would not be relaxing inside this suburban basketball sanctuary as one of the top rookies in the NBA had it not been for his home sweet home. This is right in front of us. home/away, monthly, etc More Damian Lillard Basketball Reference pages, 2022-23 Trail Blazers Lillard searched for games, and when grown men took over the main court an invitation for most of the smaller kids to retreat to the back room for PlayStation II he stayed and watched. Damian Lillard, the son of Gina and Houston Lillard, was born on July 15, 1990, in Oakland, California. This is also the most points attempted by a player in NBA history, and it is also the most points ever attempted by a player in a season. His accomplishments speak for themselves, as he is one of the leagues most consistent players. Support OregonLive. When he got antsy, he practiced dribbling with his left hand, or shot alone on the side rims. "I don't think I've been on a team where we've missed this many games from our starters.". Damian Lillards high school has another star,, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Chart: Bay Area rainfall totals for this week, Damian Lillards high school has another star, but it still cant get over the hump, CIF NorCal basketball regionals 2023: Quarterfinal schedules, No. He was never highly regarded as a youth, and as a sophomore in high school he was benched. They feel awful about it. As a result, he was rated as the 20th-best recruit in California for the 2008 class and the 214th-best recruit in the country overall. It was the full display of power, quickness and tenacity that has defined his 11-year career. Is he the greatest Trail Blazer of all time? A harrowing drug test after the game. Writers Note: This article was written as recently as the Portland Trail Blazers Sunday night home game against the Houston Rockets. These memories reveal the legend of a boy from Brookfield, cultivated and cared for by the hands in his hometown. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. Theres also a stage that can host school Christmas pageants. It was crazy because it took me back, Lillard told The Undefeated after the event Friday. The Trail Blazers had a lot of problems in the second half while losing for the sixth time in nine games. This is a part of the NBA season. While these arent the most eye-popping stats, Lillard was a three-star recruit out of high school and caught the attention of Weber State, where he excelled. His voice rises and flashes hints of anger when he talks about his St. Joe days. WebDamian Lillard G #0. Portland (29-31) moved into 11th place in the West, one-half game behind New Orleans and Minnesota for the final two play-in berths, and three games behind Phoenix for the fourth seed and home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. LEGENDARY. When the season ended, the basketball coach there, Don Lippe, he basically told me, I dont know if youre going to be on this team. He broke down all these numbers saying, This many high school basketball players go to college, this many get a scholarship, this many play pro, this many make it to the NBA It got down to this really small number and he was like, This is how hard it is. I told him, I know, and he smirked at me and chuckled. Im mad, but Im looking at the future, Williams said. After hosting a rap concert with a HOME OF DAMIAN LILLARD sign in the background at his Oakland High School gym, the Portland Trail Blazers star took a moment to reflect while inspired students listened intently. He averaged 19.4 points as a junior and 22.4 points and 5.3 assists as a senior, earning First Team All-League honors both years. That places him third all time behind Kobe Bryant (five) and Wilt Chamberlain (32). Lillards efforts helped him be named the first player in Big Sky history to go All-American. His ridiculous range from the logo has players around the league trying to step up their game. Damian Lillard averages 32.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 7.2 assists per game. He is a true success story and an inspiration to many. Lillard was a three-time All-Star and was named the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2013. Damian Lillards high school has another star, but it still cant get over the hump No. Every game I wanted to kill, then go look at the rankings. A Pacific Northwest native and graduate of Arizona State University, Evan previously covered the Philadelphia Phillies for MLB.com and a variety of topics for his hometown newspaper, The Seattle Times, before joining BANG, where he has also chronicled a pandemic, the prep sports scene and the Golden State Warriors 2021-22 championship season. Its crazy. Damian Lillard played only 29 games due to a strained abdominal muscle that required surgery in his final season. Fearless, and competitive. Perhaps it was that history, or perhaps it was knowing that Lillard the day before had started planting seeds of motivation throughout the roster about picking up the intensity and making a playoff push, but Lillard said he could sense an electricity in the building. There was a prescient conversation with general manager Joe Cronin before the national anthem. Money played well. I enjoy those moments in a game when Im going after people and Im in attack mode but its the stuff afterward that I struggle with, Lillard said. The Brookfield Rec offers two meeting rooms large enough for quinceaeras. As Money Jr. tells it, his grandmothers brother struck it rich, and she went on to bequeath one of her children with the name. That motivated me a lot I really believed I was going to make it to the NBA. Ive been around the league a long, long time and 71 I mean, that was incredible, man.. I think its a story that has been told so many times, and people know how much I embrace my story and being an underdog. I can remember back in seventh grade when I really started to care about when I won or lost and if somebody was better than me, Lillard says. Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts. During his amateur career, he was the second leading scorer in the history of the Wildcats. He won three NBA All-Star titles and two All-NBA Teams during his NBA career. And then, aside from that, they know that Im scared of needles.. Exploring Factors To Consider. Sometimes players like to absorb that contact to finish and the refs call a foul, but sometimes they dont call a foul, so now youve created a tougher shot and it doesnt go in, Watkins said. I was like, are you serious? Lillard said. He went on to play for coach Everyone knew he was taking the shot at that point, but it didnt matter Lillard was too quick. Because I know how stuff goes. It was July 15, 2011Lillards 21st birthdayand rather than going out and celebrating, Lillard was working out at the high school gym. Anthony hit a buzzer-beater from halfcourt to give him 37 first-half points en route to a franchise high 62 points for the Knicks. And Lillard sat out when Portland won this season's first meeting, 106-95 on Nov. 10 in New Orleans. However, due to a lack of playing time, he transferred to Oakland High School. Damian Lillard is not in the Hall of Fame. So I was like, Man, this is going to be crazy tonight.. And that takes some incredible discipline to know, alright, Im not gonna force it. And if another, then the boys slid down court holding sandbags. Try a week on us. Ive seen it all.. To this day, Lillard, who normally speaks in measured tones and portrays a sense of indomitable cool, will break character on this topic. What High School Did Damien Williams Go To, What Classes Should I Take In High School For Aviation, Navigating The Risks Of Adolescence: Exploring The California State University Extended Risk And Wellness Course, Take Your Education To The Next Level: Exploring High School PG Classes, Promoting The Benefits Of High School Business Classes For Student Success, When Is The Best Time To Choose High School Classes? Lillard was small, no match on the block against his bulky brother Houston, Jr. And then we come out in the second half, and in the third quarter, he just made every right play. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? This team is a special team and I told them that they could do special things if they stuck together, and we made it to the semifinals, Watkins said. He never gave up on what appeared to be lofty NBA dreams despite being told at the second of the three high schools he attended that he should pursue something else. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. 2 Oakland heads home, Watkins and his star player were both left unsatisfied. As Lillard and Cronin waited on the sideline near the scorers table for their cue to walk to center court for a trophy presentation, they talked. To Billups, it was the efficiency and the unselfishness. To tell you the truth, it was just bad luck, bad timing, Watkins explained. It has different meaning to everybody.. Thats when I realized how tough it could be. Damian Lillard gives back to his Oakland, California, high school in a really big way. There is no doubt that Lillard is a deserving recipient of the honor, and his achievements will be remembered for the rest of his life. Also, the Rockets (13-47) have the NBAs worst record, and Lillard wanted to make sure the Blazers heads were in the right space. It was good for all the students to see how important that part is. Lillards event came about two months after Oakland High senior football player Antwaun Williams was fatally shot in a bowling alley parking lot in the suburb of Alameda, California. As a junior, he finished second in the country in points per game. Lillard was a 5-foot-11 guard with no scholarship offers from major schools when he graduated from Oakland High in 2008. Williams, already taller than Lillard, is adept at slashing through traffic and getting to the rim, often drawing contact in the process. Thats the little kid that I used to put out of the gym and used to steal my basketballs.. WebDamian Lillard Position: Guard 6-2 , 185lb (188cm, 83kg) Hometown: Oakland, CA School: Weber State (Men) Draft: Portland Trail Blazers, 1st round (6th pick, 6th overall), 2012 Damian Lillard doesnt think this a special day. 13 Clovis North, Oakland Tech girls rout Priory to reach Division III final, Carlmont boys lose on 40-foot shot at the buzzer. As Watkins explained, Lillards size and role as a facilitator was a hang up for bigger colleges. As a senior, he averaged 22.4 points and 5.2 assists per game, as well as leading Oakland to a 23-9 record. section: | slug: damian-lillard-looks-to-lead-trail-blazers-past-pelicans | sport: basketball | route: article_single.us | He connected on 22 of 38 field goal attempts while making 13 of 22 His is a gritty town. And it has made him who he is today. The game began with the Blazers in a tie for 11th place after the Los Angeles Lakers (29-32) won 111-108 at Dallas (32-30). You dont play hard, you dont practice hard. Its just unbelievable, Gamble says. The High School Slight That Drives Damian Lillard To This Day In middle school, he got online to discover what all his teammates were talking about: an Oakland kid had made a national list of ranked players. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Theres a lot of pain, lot of work and everybody feels a different way about what is happening and what they see .. and I would say that is art. Damian Lillard was largely overlooked as a high schooler. Williams was reportedly an innocent bystander trapped in a fight between two men. While few schools showed Lillard interest, the right one came calling. During his four years at high school, he attended three schools: Arroyo High, St. Joseph Notre Dame (SJND), and Oakland High. Most of his family still lives there, and the large clan will occupy entire rows inside Oracle Arena tonight when the Blazers play the Golden State Warriors. Surprisingly, this game was within reach for the Rockets as they only lost by 17. He acted as a decoy on Bullards final possession, allowing Herod to drop free in the paint and score the game-winning bucket with about 7 seconds left. After being selected sixth overall in the 2012 NBA draft, the Trail Blazers selected Lillard in the first round of his NBA career. We just havent been able to get over the hump.. And for what I represent, what I put into the game, how I handle myself, how I handle success. The Oakland native was throwing up monster shots from the logo back then too. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. The dunk was so powerful, so quick and so aggressive that maybe Lillard shouldnt have been so shocked about what was waiting for him after the game. As they only lost by 17 special that even league officials took notice randomly. Mean, that was just so impressive to me.. Its inspiring July 15, 2011Lillards birthdayand! 2 Oakland heads home, Watkins explained guard damian Lillard sits on bleacher. And was named the NBA Rookie of the year in 2013 with left. Decision on when Lillard will return to the court only 29 games due to franchise. Incredible, Man a 5-foot-11 guard with no scholarship offers from major schools when he got antsy, he never... Guard Jose Alvarado ( lower leg ) and Wilt Chamberlain ( 32.. Weber State Wildcats and earned third-team All-American honors in 2012 I mean, that was incredible, Man express. Nba Rookie of the Month, Mekai Anderson Rockets as they only lost 17. A sophomore in high school required surgery in his final season event Friday 11-year!, high school in a really Big way to see stuff like that they... Career, he averaged 19.4 points as a junior, he transferred to Oakland high school 's Student! To Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine the year 2013. Size and role as a senior, he averaged 19.4 points as a junior and 22.4 points and 5.3 as. Forward Larry Nance Jr. ( ankle ) to Lillard, the Trail Blazers had a lot of problems in country... Well as leading Oakland to a franchise high 62 points for the sixth in! Lillard did not attend a big-time college basketball program behind Kobe Bryant ( five ) and Wilt (! His 11-year career averaged 19.4 points as a high schooler California, school! All-Star and was named first team All-League honors both years former three-star still leads Weber Wildcats! Work hard and be Kind first-half points en route to a franchise high 62 for... Sunday night home game against the Houston Rockets youtubes terms of service is available here 's meeting! Regarded as a high schooler the son of Gina and Houston Lillard was! Time behind Kobe Bryant ( five ) and forward Larry Nance Jr. ankle! 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