1. Overview
Damian Lamonte Ollie Lillard Sr. (born July 15, 1990) is an American professional basketball player for the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Known by his nickname "Dame Time" for his propensity to make clutch shots in crucial moments, Lillard has established himself as one of the league's premier point guards. He played college basketball for the Weber State Wildcats, earning third-team All-American honors in 2012.
Lillard was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers with the sixth overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft and was unanimously named the NBA Rookie of the Year for the 2012-13 season. During his eleven-year tenure with the Trail Blazers, he grew into a franchise star, earning seven NBA All-Star selections, seven All-NBA Team selections, and becoming the franchise's all-time leading scorer. In 2021, he won a gold medal with the U.S. Olympic team at the 2020 Summer Olympics and was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team. After a trade request in 2023, he joined the Milwaukee Bucks, with whom he won the NBA Cup in 2024 and was named NBA All-Star Game MVP in 2024.
Beyond basketball, Lillard is also a successful hip-hop artist, rapping under the stage name Dame D.O.L.L.A., which stands for "Different On Levels the Lord Allows." He has released several studio albums that have charted on the Billboard 200 and indie charts, showcasing his multifaceted talents. His jersey number, No. 0, represents his life's journey from Oakland, to Ogden, and then Oregon.
2. Early life and career
Damian Lillard's basketball journey began in his formative years, characterized by early transfers and a dedicated pursuit of playing time, ultimately leading him to a successful college career.
2.1. High school career
Lillard began his high school career at Arroyo High School in San Lorenzo, California, where he joined the varsity starting lineup as a freshman, despite being only about 5.4 ft (1.65 m) tall. He decided to transfer when his coach did not return to the team. For his sophomore year, Lillard transferred to St. Joseph Notre Dame High School in Alameda, California, a private school that had previously produced former NBA point guard Jason Kidd. However, due to a lack of playing time by the end of the year, Lillard transferred schools once again. He went on to play for coach Orlando Watkins at Oakland High School. At Oakland High, he was named First Team All-League in both his junior and senior years. During his junior season, Lillard averaged 19.4 points per game. As a senior, he increased his averages to 22.4 points and 5.2 assists per game, leading the Oakland Wildcats to a 23-9 record. In his senior year, he scored a career-high 45 points in a single game.
Despite his strong performances, Lillard was only regarded as a two-star prospect by Rivals.com and was not heavily recruited out of high school. He eventually accepted a scholarship offer to play for Weber State, a Big Sky Conference program located in Ogden, Utah. According to Lillard, Weber State was the first college basketball program to show genuine interest, with head coach Randy Rahe personally scouting him during a game in Texas when Lillard was a high school junior. Lillard chose Weber State in part to distance himself from his often-violent neighborhood in Oakland. He had also received offers from schools including Wichita State, Saint Mary's, and San Diego State.
2.2. College career
As a freshman at Weber State, Lillard averaged 11.5 points per game, earning him the Big Sky Conference Freshman of the Year award and a spot on the first-team All-Big Sky. In his sophomore year, he elevated his scoring average to 19.9 points per game and led the Wildcats to the regular season conference championship. At the season's conclusion, Lillard was named Big Sky Player of the Year and received honorable mention All-American recognition from the Associated Press.
During the 2010-11 season, Lillard led the Big Sky Conference in scoring, averaging 19.7 points per game. However, a foot injury ten games into the season forced him to take a medical redshirt, sidelining him for the remainder of the year.
As a redshirt junior, Lillard averaged 24.5 points and was among the nation's leading scorers for most of the year, ultimately finishing second to Reggie Hamilton of Oakland University. On December 3, 2011, in a game against San Jose State, Lillard scored a college career-high 41 points, which included a game-clinching three-point play that secured a 91-89 double-overtime victory for Weber State. By the end of the year, he earned his third first-team all-conference selection and won his second Big Sky Player of the Year award. Lillard was also a finalist for the Bob Cousy Award, which recognizes the nation's top point guard.
Widely recognized as the top point guard prospect in the country, Lillard decided to forgo his senior season to enter the 2012 NBA draft. He concluded his college career as the second-highest scorer in Weber State history with 1,934 points and the fifth-highest scorer in Big Sky history. He completed his degree in professional sales from Weber State University in May 2015.
3. Professional career
Damian Lillard's professional career has been marked by explosive scoring, clutch performances, and a dedication that has made him a franchise player and an NBA icon.
3.1. Portland Trail Blazers (2012-2023)
Lillard spent eleven seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers, evolving from a promising rookie into a perennial All-Star and the team's all-time leading scorer.
3.1.1. 2012-13 season: Rookie of the Year
Damian Lillard was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers with the sixth overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft. In his NBA debut on October 31 against the Los Angeles Lakers, Lillard recorded 23 points and 11 assists, joining Oscar Robertson and Allen Iverson as the only players in NBA history to achieve at least 20 points and 10 assists in their first NBA game. His 11 assists were also the most by an NBA rookie in his debut since Jason Kidd in 1994 and the most ever by a Trail Blazer in their NBA debut.
On January 11 against the Golden State Warriors, Lillard made a career-high 15 field goals and a Trail Blazer rookie-record seven 3-pointers, finishing with 37 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists. He became the first Trail Blazer to win an event at the NBA All-Star Weekend, securing the Skills Challenge. He also participated in the Rising Stars Challenge during All-Star weekend, contributing 18 points, 3 rebounds, and 5 assists in a game-high 28 minutes. On March 8 against the San Antonio Spurs, Lillard became the first NBA rookie to record 35 points, 9 assists, and zero turnovers in a game since turnovers were first officially tracked in the 1978-79 season. On April 10 against the Lakers, Lillard scored a season-high 38 points.
Lillard earned Western Conference Rookie of the Month honors for every month of the season, becoming one of just eight players to sweep the NBA Rookie of the Month awards since its inception in 1981-82. He ranked fifth in the NBA in 3-pointers made, 12th in points per game, tied for 16th in assists per game, and tied for 23rd in free throw percentage. He was one of only 10 NBA players to score 1,500 points, and he led all rookies in scoring (19.0 ppg), assists (6.5 apg), field goals (553), and free throws (271).
With averages of 19.0 points, 3.1 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 0.90 steals, and 38.6 minutes in 82 games (all starts), Lillard not only claimed the NBA Rookie of the Year Award but also joined Blake Griffin (2011), David Robinson (1990), and Ralph Sampson (1984) as the only unanimous winners of the award. He also joined Oscar Robertson and Allen Iverson as the only rookies in NBA history to tally more than 1,500 points and 500 assists in a single season. Lillard became the fourth Trail Blazer in franchise history to win NBA Rookie of the Year honors and one of only two to ever finish a season with at least 1,500 points and 500 assists (the other being Clyde Drexler in 1986-87 and 1991-92). Among other distinctions, he broke the all-time NBA rookie record for 3-pointers in a season with 185, surpassing Stephen Curry's 166 in 2009-10. He also became the Portland franchise leader for most 3-point field goals in a season, breaking Damon Stoudamire's record of 181 in 2004-05, and was the first rookie to lead the NBA in total minutes played (3,167) since Elvin Hayes in 1968-69.
3.1.2. 2013-14 season: First All-Star and All-NBA selection
In the season opener on October 30, Lillard scored 32 points against the Phoenix Suns. He replicated this 32-point effort on December 7 against the Dallas Mavericks. On December 17, he registered 36 points, 10 assists, and 8 rebounds against the Cleveland Cavaliers, followed by another 36-point performance the next day against the Minnesota Timberwolves. On January 7, in a 123-119 loss to the Sacramento Kings, Lillard scored a career-high 41 points, including 26 in the fourth quarter, which set a new Portland franchise record for most points in any quarter. On February 7, he scored 38 points against the Indiana Pacers.
During the All-Star Weekend, Lillard made history by becoming the first player in NBA history to participate in five events: the Rising Stars Challenge, Skills Challenge, Three-Point Contest, Slam Dunk Contest, and the All-Star Game itself. He also participated in the Shooting Stars competition (a team event involving an active NBA player, active WNBA player, and former NBA player), making him the only player to compete in every major event that weekend.
Lillard started all 82 games for the second consecutive year, averaging 20.7 points, 5.6 assists, and 3.5 rebounds per game. Portland finished fifth in the Western Conference with a 54-28 record and faced the Houston Rockets in the first round of the 2014 NBA playoffs. In Game 1 of the series, Lillard recorded 31 points and 9 rebounds in his first playoff appearance, helping Portland secure a 122-120 overtime win over Houston. In Game 6 of the series, Lillard became the first player to make a buzzer-beating shot to win a playoff series since John Stockton of Utah against Houston in 1997. Lillard's 3-pointer as time expired gave Portland a 99-98 victory over Houston, as he finished with 25 points to lift the Trail Blazers to their first playoff series win since 2000. The Trail Blazers subsequently lost in five games to the eventual NBA champion San Antonio Spurs in the second round. Lillard's best game of the series came in Game 4, where he scored 25 points, helping the Trail Blazers secure their only victory in the series. At the season's end, Lillard was named to the All-NBA Third Team.
3.1.3. 2014-15 season: First division title
For the third consecutive season, Lillard started all 82 games for the Trail Blazers. He averaged career highs in points, rebounds, steals, and field goal percentage, but his three-point percentage dropped to a career-low 34 percent. Despite struggling with his shot from January onwards, he had shot well during the first two months of the season. He set the record for most three-pointers in a player's first three seasons, led the team in Win Shares, and finished second in PER. On December 19, 2014, he scored a career-high 43 points in a 129-119 triple-overtime win over the defending champion San Antonio Spurs in a rematch of the previous season's semifinal playoff series. Four days later, he had a 40-point performance against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
On January 5, 2015, Lillard scored 39 points against the Los Angeles Lakers. On February 8, 2015, he was selected as a replacement for the injured Blake Griffin in the 2015 NBA All-Star Game. On March 4, 2015, Lillard recorded a career-high 18 rebounds in a 98-93 win over the Los Angeles Clippers. The Trail Blazers finished the regular season as the fourth seed in the Western Conference with a 51-31 record. They faced the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the playoffs, where they lost in five games. Lillard struggled with his three-point shooting during the series, making just 5 of 31 attempts, including going 0 for 6 in Game 1.
3.1.4. 2015-16 season: Franchise player
On July 9, 2015, Lillard signed a five-year, 120.00 M USD contract extension with the Trail Blazers. On October 28, 2015, in a season-opening win over the New Orleans Pelicans, Lillard recorded 21 points and 11 assists. His single three-pointer in that game marked his 600th career three-point field goal, making him the fastest NBA player in history to reach that milestone in 247 games. Additionally, Lillard's 11 assists brought his career total to 1,500, making him the fastest Trail Blazer to reach this mark since Terry Porter (215 games in the 1987-88 season). In the subsequent game on October 30 against the Phoenix Suns, Lillard became the fastest player to reach 5,000 points and 1,500 assists (248 games) since Derrick Rose (240 games).
On December 12, in a loss to the New York Knicks, Lillard became the first Blazer since Clyde Drexler in 1991-92 to record 600 points and 150 assists within the team's first 25 games. On December 21, Lillard missed the first game of his career due to plantar fasciitis in his left foot, ending his streak of 275 consecutive games played. Backcourt partner C. J. McCollum also missed the game, leaving the Trail Blazers without their two leading scorers to face the Atlanta Hawks, resulting in a 106-97 loss. He missed an additional six games with the injury, returning on January 4 against the Memphis Grizzlies, where he recorded 17 points and 7 assists in a 91-78 loss. On January 8, he scored a then season-high 40 points in a loss to the Golden State Warriors. On January 18, in a win over the Washington Wizards, he hit his 2,000th NBA field goal, becoming one of only eight players to reach that mark since he entered the league in 2012-13. On January 26, in a win over the Sacramento Kings, Lillard posted 15 points and 13 assists for his 10th double-double of the season, a new career high.
On February 19, Lillard scored a career-high 51 points in a 137-105 win over the Golden State Warriors. He became the first player in NBA history to have at least 50 points, 7 assists, and 6 steals since the steal became an official statistic in 1973-74. This was one of only nine losses for the Warriors all season, a team that eventually won 73 games, surpassing the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls for the most regular season wins of all time. Two days later, Lillard scored 30 points against the Utah Jazz, becoming the first Blazer to score at least 30 points in four consecutive games since Drexler achieved the feat in 1991. He extended that streak to five in the team's next game on February 23 against the Brooklyn Nets. Over his first 300 NBA games, Lillard averaged 21.2 points and 6.2 assists per game. Only four other players in NBA history had averaged 21 points and 6 assists over their first 300 games: Oscar Robertson (30.2 and 10.3), Nate Archibald (24.5 and 8.4), LeBron James (26.7 and 6.4), and Dwyane Wade (24.0 and 6.4). On March 4, he had his second 50-point game of the season in a 117-115 loss to the Toronto Raptors. On March 8, Lillard recorded 41 points and 11 assists in a 116-109 overtime win over the Washington Wizards, marking his 15th straight game with 20-plus points. He also registered his 400th assist of the season, making him the first Trail Blazer with 400-plus assists in each of his first four seasons.
In the Trail Blazers' season finale on April 13 against the Denver Nuggets, Lillard hit his 827th career three-pointer, surpassing Wesley Matthews' Portland franchise record of 826. Lillard finished the regular season averaging 25.1 points per game, while C. J. McCollum averaged 20.8, making them the first backcourt in Blazers' history to average 20 or more points each. Lillard also became the third Blazer to average 25-plus points, joining Drexler and Kiki Vandeweghe. In the 2016 MVP Race, he finished eighth in total points received. After defeating the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round of the playoffs, the Trail Blazers advanced to face the Golden State Warriors in the second round. In Game 3 of that series, Lillard recorded 40 points and 10 assists to help the Trail Blazers win 120-108, cutting the Warriors' series advantage to 2-1. The Trail Blazers ultimately lost the series in five games.
3.1.5. 2016-17 season: Magic Johnson Award
In the Trail Blazers' season opener on October 25, 2016, Lillard recorded 39 points on 13-of-20 shooting, along with 9 rebounds and 6 assists, in a 113-104 win over the Utah Jazz. With his first assist of the night, Lillard surpassed Jim Paxson for sixth place on the franchise's all-time assists list (2,008). Four days later, he scored 37 points, including a go-ahead floater with less than a second remaining in overtime, to lead the Trail Blazers to a 115-113 win over the Denver Nuggets. With 27 points against the Phoenix Suns on November 2, Lillard became the first NBA player to score 27 or more points in each of his team's first five games since Kobe Bryant in 2005-06. Lillard's 163 points in the season's first five games were the most ever by a Blazer to start a season. Two days later, Lillard scored 27 of his then season-high 42 points in the second half of the Trail Blazers' 105-95 win over the Dallas Mavericks. With 38 points on November 8 against Phoenix, Lillard accumulated 262 points over the first eight games of the season, the most through the first eight games of a season in franchise history. This was also the most by an NBA player since Bryant had 264 through the first eight in 2009-10.
Lillard amassed a team-record 695 points in the Blazers' first 25 games of the season, surpassing Clyde Drexler's previous mark of 681 in 1988. He missed five games between December 26 and January 4 after spraining his left ankle against San Antonio on December 23. On January 28 against Golden State, Lillard reached 8,000 career points, becoming the 11th Blazer to hit the mark and joining Michael Jordan and LeBron James as the only three players to reach 8,000 points and 2,000 assists in their first five seasons. On March 19, Lillard scored a season-high 49 points, tying a career high with nine three-pointers, leading the Trail Blazers past the Miami Heat, 115-104. On April 3, 2017, he was named Western Conference Player of the Month for games played in March. Propelled by Lillard's performance, the Trail Blazers achieved an NBA-best 13-3 record in March, surging into eighth place in the Western Conference. Lillard ranked third in the NBA in scoring (29.1 ppg) and tied for fourth in three-pointers made (55), along with 6.0 assists, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.44 steals in 16 games. Five days later, Lillard scored a franchise-record 59 points and matched his career high with nine three-pointers to lead the Trail Blazers to a 101-86 win over the Jazz. It was Lillard's 27th game of the season with 30 or more points, a franchise high. He also became the fifth Blazer to score 2,000-plus points in a season.
After being 10 games under .500 at the All-Star break, Lillard helped the Trail Blazers embark on an 18-8 late-season surge that earned them the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference with a 41-41 record. They faced the Golden State Warriors for the second straight year in the playoffs, this time in the first round. Portland was swept in four games despite Lillard's 34-point effort in Game 4. For the series, Lillard averaged 27.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.3 steals per game, shooting 43% from the field, 28% from behind the arc, and 96% from the free throw line. On May 2, 2017, he was named the recipient of the Magic Johnson Award for the 2016-17 season, which honors the player who best combines excellence on the basketball court with cooperation and dignity in dealing with the media and the public.
3.1.6. 2017-18 season: All-NBA First Team selection
On October 28, 2017, in a 114-107 win over the Phoenix Suns, Lillard reached the 9,000-point milestone during the third quarter. With 402 career games, Lillard became the fastest Blazer to score 9,000 points. On November 15, he had 26 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists in a 99-94 win over the Orlando Magic. During the game, he surpassed Mychal Thompson (9,215 points) for eighth on the franchise's all-time scoring leaders list. On November 27, he scored 32 points in a 103-91 win over the New York Knicks. He finished the game with 2,575 career assists, moving him past Rod Strickland into fourth place on Portland's career assists list. Lillard also joined Clyde Drexler and Terry Porter as the only players in franchise history in the top 10 in scoring and top five in assists. On December 9, he tied a franchise record with nine 3-pointers and scored 35 points in a 124-117 loss to the Houston Rockets. Two days later, he scored a then season-high 39 points with five 3-pointers in a 111-104 loss to the Golden State Warriors. Lillard dealt with a hamstring injury in late December before straining his right calf in early January. On January 12, he scored 23 points in a 119-113 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans. He moved into seventh in franchise history in scoring with 9,753 points, passing Geoff Petrie (9,732). On January 22, Lillard was named Western Conference Player of the Week for games played January 15-21, marking his fourth career Player of the Week nod. A day later, he was named a Western Conference All-Star reserve.
On February 2, he scored 32 points in a 130-105 loss to the Toronto Raptors, becoming the fastest player in franchise history to reach 10,000 career points. He also became the eighth player to get 10,000 points and 2,500 assists in his first six seasons, joining Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Larry Bird, Nate Archibald, Pete Maravich, Dave Bing, and Oscar Robertson. On February 9, in a 118-100 win over the Sacramento Kings, Lillard scored a season-high 50 points in 29 minutes-the fourth 50-point game of his career. He scored 22 points in the third quarter before sitting out the entire fourth quarter, shooting 16 of 26 from the field with eight 3-pointers and 10 of 10 free throws. On February 14, he had 44 points and 8 assists in a 123-117 win over the Warriors. On February 24, he hit a go-ahead lay-up with 0.9 seconds left and finished with a game-high 40 points in a 106-104 win over the Suns. Nineteen of his 40 points came in the fourth quarter, as he helped the Trail Blazers rally from 15 points down in the final 7 and a half minutes. In five games between February 9 and 24, Lillard scored 197 points-the most points for a Blazer over a five-game stretch in franchise history. Lillard averaged 31.4 points per game in February, clinching the highest-scoring average for any month in Portland history, surpassing Geoff Petrie's record of 30.4 points in March 1971.
On March 3 against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Lillard made at least one 3-pointer in his 45th straight game, setting a franchise record. With nine assists on March 15 against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Lillard became the third player in league history to have 1,500-plus points and 400-plus assists in each of his first six seasons. On March 20 against Houston, Lillard's franchise-record streak of 52 games with a 3-pointer ended. In the Trail Blazers' season finale on April 11, Lillard recorded 36 points and 10 assists in a 102-93 win over the Utah Jazz. The win earned the Trail Blazers the third seed in the playoffs with a 49-33 record. Lillard finished the regular season tied for fourth in scoring average in the NBA (26.9), the last Blazer to rank among the league's top five in scoring being Drexler during the 1991-92 season (25.0). For the season, he was named to the All-NBA First Team, becoming the third player in franchise history to earn this honor, joining Clyde Drexler (1991-92) and Bill Walton (1977-78). Additionally, he placed fourth in the 2018 MVP Race. In Game 4 of the Trail Blazers' first-round playoff series against the Pelicans, Lillard scored 19 points in a 131-123 loss. This loss eliminated Portland from the playoffs in a four-game sweep. Lillard never scored more than 20 points in the series and was held below that mark three times.
3.1.7. 2018-19 season: Western Conference Finals
In the Trail Blazers' season opener on October 18, 2018, Lillard scored a game-high 28 points in a 128-119 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. On October 25, he scored 34 of his 41 points in the second half of the Trail Blazers' 128-114 win over the Orlando Magic. On October 27, he scored 42 points in a 120-111 loss to the Miami Heat, eclipsing the 11,000-point mark. On November 16, he had five assists against the Minnesota Timberwolves to pass Damon Stoudamire (3,018) for third on the team's career assists list. Two days later, he scored 40 points in a 119-109 win over the Washington Wizards. On November 28, he scored 41 points and set a franchise record with ten 3-pointers in a 115-112 win over the Magic. His seven 3-pointers in the third quarter were a franchise record for a single quarter. On December 17, he scored 22 of his 39 points in the third quarter of the Trail Blazers' 131-127 win over the Los Angeles Clippers. On December 27, he hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 6.3 seconds left in overtime and scored 21 points in a 110-109 win over the Golden State Warriors. Two days later, he hit six 3-pointers and scored 40 points in a 115-105 loss to the Warriors. It was his fifth 40-point game of the season, tying a career high. On January 14, in a 115-107 loss to the Sacramento Kings, Lillard scored 35 points to become the fastest player in Portland history to reach 12,000 career points. Additionally, Lillard scored in double figures in his 184th consecutive game, breaking a tie with Clyde Drexler for the franchise record. With 24 points against the Phoenix Suns on January 24, Lillard reached 1,311 points for the season, the most by any Portland player through 50 games.
On March 7, he scored a season-high 51 points in a 129-121 overtime loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. On March 15, he scored 24 points in a 122-110 win over the New Orleans Pelicans, becoming the second-leading scorer in franchise history, passing LaMarcus Aldridge (12,562) to sit behind only Drexler (18,040). With 31 points and 12 assists in a double-overtime victory over the Brooklyn Nets on March 25, Lillard recorded his 20th career game of at least 30 points and 10 assists, passing Drexler (19) for the most such games in franchise history. On April 1, he was named Western Conference Player of the Week for the week ending March 31, marking the seventh weekly honor of his career and the first of the 2018-19 season. In April, he became the first Blazer to have 2,000 points and 500 assists in the same season, and the only Blazer besides Drexler to reach 2,000 points in two seasons with the team. He also surpassed his franchise record of 229 3-pointers set in the 2015-16 season and reached 1,500 for his career. Lillard placed sixth in the 2019 MVP race.
On April 23, Lillard hit a 37-foot, game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer and finished with a playoff career-high 50 points to help the Trail Blazers eliminate the Thunder from the playoffs in five games with a 118-115 victory. He had ten 3-pointers, breaking the franchise record for three-pointers in a playoff game. In Game 1 of the second round, Lillard scored 39 points in a 121-113 loss to the Denver Nuggets. In Game 6, he scored 32 points in a 119-108 win, helping the Trail Blazers tie the series against the Nuggets at 3-3. In the deciding Game 7, he scored 13 points on 3-of-17 shooting in a 100-96 win, advancing the Trail Blazers to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2000. In Game 2 of the conference finals, Lillard separated his ribs, but continued to play through the pain for the rest of the series-a series the Trail Blazers lost in a four-game sweep to the Kevin Durant-less Warriors.
3.1.8. 2019-20 season: Career high in assists per game
On November 8, 2019, Lillard recorded a then career-high 60 points, though it came in a 115-119 loss to the visiting Brooklyn Nets. He surpassed that on January 20, 2020, by scoring 61 points along with 10 rebounds and 7 assists in a 129-124 overtime win versus the Golden State Warriors. From January 20 through February 1, Lillard had a six-game stretch averaging 48.8 points per game. He also recorded his first career triple-double on January 29 by registering 36 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists in a 125-112 victory over the Houston Rockets. This historic scoring run earned him back-to-back Western Conference Player of the Week awards. On January 30, Lillard was selected for his fifth All-Star nod but was unable to participate due to a groin injury. He missed six games from February 21 to March 2. Lillard returned to play in the last four Blazers' games before the NBA hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During this span, he averaged 20.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1.8 steals per contest while shooting 40 percent from the field, 41.2 percent on 3-pointers, and 87.5 percent at the free-throw line.
On June 30, 2020, Lillard was selected to be the cover athlete for NBA 2K21. In Portland's fourth game in the Orlando bubble, upon returning from the four-month hiatus, Lillard recorded 45 points and 12 assists in a 125-115 win over the Denver Nuggets on August 6. Three days later, he followed that up with a 51-point, 7-assist performance to lead the Trail Blazers to a 124-121 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. On August 11, Lillard erupted for 61 points, tying a career high, and 8 assists en route to a 134-131 win over the Dallas Mavericks. This was his third 60-point outing of the season, joining Wilt Chamberlain as the only two players in league history to have such games three times in a single season. Lillard scored an NBA-high 37.6 points and 9.6 assists in the bubble's seeding games, leading Portland to a 6-2 record. He was voted the NBA Player of the Seeding Games. He placed eighth in the 2020 season MVP race.
3.1.9. 2020-21 season: NBA Teammate of the Year
On January 30, 2021, Lillard scored a season-high 44 points, alongside a game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer, in a 123-122 win over the Chicago Bulls. On February 17, 2021, Lillard scored 43 points and tied a career-high 16 assists in a win against the New Orleans Pelicans. He became one of only 12 players in NBA history to have 40 points and 15 assists in a game. Lillard placed seventh in the 2021 MVP race, marking the fifth time in six seasons that he had placed among the top eight in MVP voting.
During Game 5 of the first round of the 2021 playoffs against the Denver Nuggets, Lillard scored a playoff career-high 55 points, setting an NBA playoff record with 12 made three-pointers, and also recorded 10 assists. Lillard hit game-tying three-pointers near the end of regulation and near the end of the first overtime to keep Portland alive. However, the Nuggets rallied for a 147-140 double-overtime victory to take a 3-2 series lead. In Game 6, he had 29 points and 13 assists, but the Blazers lost to Denver 126-115, resulting in Portland's elimination in the First Round for the fourth time in five years.
3.1.10. 2021-22 season: Injury and missing playoffs
On November 20, 2021, Lillard scored a season-high 39 points, along with 7 assists and 3 blocks, in a 118-111 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. On January 13, 2022, he underwent surgery for an abdominal injury and was initially ruled out for 6-8 weeks.
On February 10, Blazers interim general manager Joe Cronin stated that Lillard would "most likely" not play again during the 2021-22 season. On March 21, Lillard was officially ruled out for the remainder of the season. This was the first time since Lillard's rookie season that Portland missed the playoffs, as they finished the season with a 27-55 record.
3.1.11. 2022-23 season: Comeback and career high in scoring
After missing the final 47 games last season due to injuries, Lillard scored 41 points in Portland's second and third games of the new season, leading them to a 3-0 start. Lillard became one of eight players all-time to score at least 40 points twice in his team's first three games of the season, a list that includes Wilt Chamberlain (three times) and Michael Jordan (three times). In the season opener at Sacramento, Lillard moved into the top 10 on the NBA's all-time three-point field goals made list. For his play, he was named the NBA Western Conference Player of the Week for the 14th time in his career, the most in Trail Blazers history. On December 19, Lillard scored 28 points in a 123-121 loss against the Oklahoma City Thunder, surpassing Clyde Drexler (18,040) to become the franchise's all-time leading scorer.
On January 12, 2023, Lillard scored a then season-high 50 points in a 119-113 loss against the Cleveland Cavaliers. It was his 15th career game with 50 or more points, joining James Harden and Stephen Curry as the only three players over the past 10 seasons with 10 or more 50-point games. On January 23, Lillard hit his 2,283rd career three-pointer, passing Jason Terry for seventh on the NBA's all-time list in the Blazers' 147-127 win against the San Antonio Spurs. In the following game on January 25, Lillard had a then season-high 60 points, hitting nine 3-pointers, along with seven rebounds, eight assists, and three steals in a 134-124 win over the Utah Jazz. He became just the fifth player in NBA history to score 60 points at least four times in the regular season, joining a group that includes Wilt Chamberlain (32), Kobe Bryant (6), James Harden (4), and Michael Jordan (4). Lillard also became the first player in NBA history with three career games of at least 60 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists, and he posted the highest true shooting percentage ever in a 60-point game (.898). Additionally, he hit his 2,291st career three-pointer, surpassing Vince Carter for sixth on the NBA's all-time list. On February 2, Lillard recorded his second career triple-double with 33 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists in a 125-122 win over the reigning champions Golden State Warriors. On February 18, Lillard won the Three-Point Contest. A day later, he scored the game-winning 3-pointer in the 2023 All-Star Game, giving Team Giannis their first (and only) All-Star Game victory against Team LeBron. On February 26, Lillard scored a career-high and Blazers franchise-high 71 points with a career-high and Blazers franchise-high 13 three-pointers made, along with 6 rebounds and 6 assists, in a 131-114 win against the Houston Rockets. He became the eighth player in NBA history to score 70 or more in a single game. He also accumulated 15 games with 50 or more points, sixth-most in NBA history. With this effort, Lillard became the first player in NBA history to score more than 70 points in under 40 minutes and the only player on that elite list to score 70 over the age of 30, and the first to do so with 10 or more three-pointers. On March 6, Lillard logged his third career triple-double with 31 points, a season-high 13 rebounds, and 12 assists in a 110-104 win over the Detroit Pistons.
3.2. Milwaukee Bucks (2023-present)
On September 27, 2023, Lillard was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks as part of a three-team trade that sent Jrue Holiday, Deandre Ayton, Toumani Camara, and a 2029 first-round draft pick to the Blazers. In return, the Blazers also received the rights to swap first-round draft picks with Milwaukee in 2028 and 2030. As part of the same trade, Grayson Allen, Jusuf Nurkić, Nassir Little, and Keon Johnson were sent to the Phoenix Suns.
Lillard made his Bucks debut on October 26, 2023, against the Philadelphia 76ers, scoring 39 points-a franchise record for a debut-and grabbing 8 rebounds in a 118-117 season-opening victory. On December 13, in a game against the Indiana Pacers, Lillard made his 2,451st career three-pointer, passing Kyle Korver for fifth on the NBA's all-time list. On December 17, Lillard recorded 39 points, 11 assists, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals in a 128-119 win over the Houston Rockets. On December 19, Lillard scored 40 points in a 132-119 win over the San Antonio Spurs and surpassed 20,000 career points. Lillard also became just the fourth player in league history, after LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and James Harden, to have career totals of at least 20,000 points, 5,000 assists, and 2,000 3-pointers.
On January 14, 2024, Lillard scored 29 points, including a buzzer-beating, game-winning three-pointer, and added 8 assists in a 143-142 overtime win over the Sacramento Kings. He became just the fifth player in NBA history to make at least 2,500 career three-pointers. On January 20, Lillard scored a season-high 45 points with five three-pointers made, and added 6 rebounds and 11 assists in a 141-135 win over the Detroit Pistons. He became the first player in Bucks history to record at least 40 points, 10 assists, and five three-pointers in a game. On January 25, Lillard was named an Eastern Conference starter for the 2024 NBA All-Star Game, marking his eighth selection overall and his first selection as a starter. During the All-Star Weekend, Lillard subsequently won the NBA Three-Point Contest, becoming the first back-to-back winner in over a decade. Lillard was also named the NBA All-Star Game MVP, with 39 points including 11 three-pointers. He was also the first player to win the All-Star Game MVP and the Three-Point Contest in the same weekend. On March 8, in a game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Lillard made his 2,561st career three-pointer, passing Reggie Miller for fourth on the NBA's all-time list. On March 17, Lillard had 31 points and tied his career-high with 16 assists in a 140-129 win over the Phoenix Suns.
In Game 1 of the Bucks' First Round playoff series against the Indiana Pacers, Lillard scored a franchise record 35 points in the first half, leading them to a 109-94 victory and setting a Bucks record for points in either half of a playoff game. Lillard missed Games 4 and 5 of the series due to an Achilles injury suffered during Game 3. Milwaukee ultimately fell to Indiana in six games, despite Lillard's 28-point outing in the 120-98 close-out Game 6 loss. On November 2, 2024, Lillard had 41 points with nine assists and shot 10 of 15 from 3-point range in a 114-113 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. On December 17, Lillard and the Bucks won the NBA Cup with a 97-81 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder, with Lillard being selected to the All-Tournament team. On January 30, 2025, Lillard was named as a reserve for the 2025 NBA All-Star Game, his ninth selection.
4. Play style
Damian Lillard's play style is defined by his exceptional offensive skills, particularly his long-range shooting and clutch performance, coupled with effective playmaking.
Lillard's shooting is his primary weapon, making him a top-tier long-range shooter, especially proficient with deep three-pointers. He excels at three-point pull-up jumpers and demonstrates remarkable strength from long range. Beyond his perimeter game, he also possesses strong finishing ability around the rim, effectively driving into the paint through pick-and-rolls or individual drives. He possesses all the necessary skills for a scoring guard, including advanced ball-handling and quick footwork.
His playmaking abilities are also highly developed, contributing significantly to his team's offense through assists. Lillard is also an excellent free-throw shooter, maintaining a career free throw percentage well over 80%. While his defensive effort is not considered his strongest attribute, his overall offensive impact more than compensates.
A defining characteristic of Lillard's game is his extraordinary clutch ability, referring to his capacity to perform and deliver in critical moments at the end of close games. Statistically, he is considered one of the most clutch players in the current NBA. The periods when Lillard consistently makes decisive shots are famously known as "Dame Time," often accompanied by his signature "tapping the wrist" celebration, symbolizing the time to take over the game.
5. Dramatic buzzer-beaters
Damian Lillard is renowned for his dramatic, game-winning buzzer-beaters, which have become iconic moments in his career and cemented his reputation as one of the NBA's most clutch performers.
In the 2013-14 NBA playoffs, in Game 6 of the first-round series against the Houston Rockets, Lillard delivered his first iconic buzzer-beater. With the Trail Blazers leading the series 3-2 and playing at home, the game was a back-and-forth affair in the fourth quarter. With 0.9 seconds left, after a rebound scramble, Chandler Parsons of the Rockets scored, putting Houston up 98-96. Following a timeout, Lillard received an inbound pass from Nicolas Batum. Despite being off balance and with his body moving, Lillard launched a three-pointer over Parsons' outstretched hand. The shot swished through the net as the buzzer sounded, giving Portland a 99-98 victory and their first playoff series win in 14 years. This dramatic shot was particularly poignant for fans as it mirrored a buzzer-beater made by former team ace Brandon Roy against the Rockets in 2008, with similar pass and shot locations. After the game, Lillard famously took the microphone and yelled "Rip City!!", the Trail Blazers' nickname, and commented that it was "definitely the biggest shot of my life-so far." This marked the first time a player had made a buzzer-beater to clinch a playoff series since legendary point guard John Stockton of the Utah Jazz did so against the Rockets in 1997.
Lillard's second series-clinching buzzer-beater occurred in the 2018-19 playoffs, in Game 5 of the first-round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder. With Portland holding a 3-1 series lead, the game was tied 115-115 with 15 seconds remaining and the Trail Blazers possessing the ball. Lillard held the ball until two seconds were left on the clock, then launched a three-pointer from near half-court over the outstretched arm of Paul George. The shot found its mark as time expired, giving the Trail Blazers a 118-115 victory and sending them to the next round. This further solidified his "Dame Time" reputation.
In Game 5 of the first round of the 2020-21 playoffs against the Denver Nuggets, Lillard hit two incredible game-tying three-pointers. He made one at the end of the fourth quarter and another at the end of the first overtime, both to extend the game and keep Portland's hopes alive. In this same game, Lillard played 52 minutes, scoring a playoff career-high 55 points, which included an NBA playoff record 12 made three-pointers. He achieved this with remarkable efficiency, shooting 17-of-24 (70.8%) from the field, 12-of-17 (70.6%) from three-point range, and 9-of-10 (90.0%) from the free-throw line. Despite his heroic efforts, the Blazers ultimately lost the game in double overtime.
6. Personal life
Lillard wears the jersey number No. 0, a symbolic representation of the letter 'O' and his life's geographical journey: from his hometown of Oakland, to Ogden, where he played college basketball, and then to Oregon, where he began his NBA career.
Lillard is a Christian, and he has a tattoo on his left arm featuring a verse from Psalms 37:1-3. He earned his college degree in professional sales from Weber State University in May 2015. His sister, LaNae, attended Lakeridge High School. His brother, Houston, earned a football scholarship to Southeast Missouri State after playing junior college football at Laney College and is now an Indoor Football League quarterback. During the 2020-21 season, Lillard became a teammate of his cousin, Keljin Blevins, who signed a two-way contract with the Trail Blazers.
On March 29, 2018, Lillard's first child, a son named Damian Jr., was born. He and his family reside in the affluent Portland suburb of West Linn, Oregon. In January 2021, Lillard and his fiancée Kay'La Hanson welcomed twins, a daughter named Kali and a son named Kalii. In September 2021, Lillard married Hanson. However, by 2024, Lillard and Hanson were divorced.
Lillard is also actively involved in philanthropic endeavors. He established the "RESPECT Program" to help high school students in the Portland metro area graduate. He also revived the "Never Worry Picnic" in Brookfield Park, an East Oakland event that had been discontinued when he was 12 years old, following his standout rookie season in 2013.
In 2012, Lillard signed a multi-year sponsorship deal with Adidas. In 2014, he negotiated a new contract with Adidas, reportedly worth 100.00 M USD over 10 years. Lillard has a signature shoe line with Adidas, known as the "Adidas Dame." In 2017, he signed a sponsorship deal with Powerade, a subsidiary of the Coca-Cola Company. Lillard also has endorsement deals with Spalding, Panini, Foot Locker, JBL, Biofreeze, and Moda Health. In 2019, Lillard became one of several NBA players to sign a contract with Hulu to promote the streaming service's new campaign for adding live sports to their offerings.
In 2020, Lillard, alongside longtime friend and business partner Brian Sanders, became a co-owner of a Toyota dealership in McMinnville, Oregon, now known as Damian Lillard Toyota.
7. Music career
Beyond his basketball career, Damian Lillard has a parallel career as a hip-hop artist and rapper, performing under the stage name Dame D.O.L.L.A., an acronym for "Different On Levels the Lord Allows." His musical journey began with a casual desire to spend time with his cousin, Eugene "Baby" Vasquez, who moved to Oakland from New York City in the early 1990s. Another significant influence on Lillard's rapping style and pursuits was his cousin, Brookfield Duece, who had achieved some success in the Oakland rap scene.
Lillard initiated a social media trend known as "Four Bar Friday," encouraging himself and participants to submit videos of themselves rapping a short verse on Instagram every Friday using the hashtag #4BarFriday. In July 2015, he released his first full-length single, "Soldier in the Game," via the online music streaming platform SoundCloud. On October 21, 2016, Lillard officially released his debut album, The Letter O. He followed up with his second album, Confirmed, on October 6, 2017. Lillard released his third album, Big D.O.L.L.A., on August 9, 2019, featuring collaborations with prominent artists such as Lil Wayne, Mozzy, and Jeremih.
Lillard has since established his own record label, Front Page Music, which includes Brookfield Duece on its roster. In September 2020, Lillard released his single "Kobe," featuring Snoop Dogg and Derrick Milano. This track was included as part of the soundtrack for NBA 2K21 as a tribute to the late Kobe Bryant. In April 2024, Lillard was featured on "Day 0," a single by the Hong Kong boy group Mirror.
7.1. Discography
7.1.1. Studio albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US Indie | US R&B/HH | ||
| The Letter O |
>119 | 13 | 7 | |
| Confirmed |
>- | 18 | - | |
| Big D.O.L.L.A. |
>- | 12 | - | |
| Different on Levels the Lord Allowed |
>- | - | - | |
7.1.2. Singles
8. Awards and honors
Damian Lillard has accumulated numerous awards and honors throughout his collegiate and professional basketball careers, recognizing his exceptional skill and impact on the game.
- 9× NBA All-Star (2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025)
- NBA All-Star Game MVP (2024)
- All-NBA First Team (2018)
- 4× All-NBA Second Team (2016, 2019, 2020, 2021)
- 2× All-NBA Third Team (2014, 2023)
- NBA Player of the Seeding Games (2020)
- NBA Rookie of the Year (2013)
- NBA All-Rookie First Team (2013)
- 2× NBA Three-Point Contest champion (2023, 2024)
- J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award (2019)
- NBA Teammate of the Year (2021)
- NBA Rising Star (2012, 2013)
- 2× NBA Skills Challenge champion (2013, 2014)
- First NBA player to participate in five events in All-Star Weekend (2014: Rising Stars Challenge, Slam Dunk Contest, Three-Point Contest, Skills Challenge winner, All-Star Game)
- NBA 75th Anniversary Team (2021)
- NBA Cup (2024)
- NBA All-Tournament Team (2024)
- AP third-team All-American (2012)
- NABC third-team All-American (2012)
- 2× Big Sky Conference Player of the Year (2010, 2012)
- 3× First-team All-Big Sky (2009, 2010, 2012)
- 2× Big Sky All-Tournament Team (2010, 2012)
- Big Sky Freshman of the Year (2009)
- No. 1 jersey retired by Weber State
- Gold medal with United States at the 2020 Summer Olympics (2021)
9. Career statistics
The following tables detail Damian Lillard's career statistics from his time in college and the NBA.
9.1. NBA
9.1.1. Regular season
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-13 | Portland | 82 | 82 | 38.6 | .429 | .368 | .844 | 3.1 | 6.5 | .9 | .2 | 19.0 |
| 2013-14 | Portland | 82 | 82 | 35.8 | .424 | .394 | .871 | 3.5 | 5.6 | .8 | .3 | 20.7 |
| 2014-15 | Portland | 82 | 82 | 35.7 | .434 | .343 | .864 | 4.6 | 6.2 | 1.2 | .3 | 21.0 |
| 2015-16 | Portland | 75 | 75 | 35.7 | .419 | .375 | .892 | 4.0 | 6.8 | .9 | .4 | 25.1 |
| 2016-17 | Portland | 75 | 75 | 35.9 | .444 | .370 | .895 | 4.9 | 5.9 | .9 | .3 | 27.0 |
| 2017-18 | Portland | 73 | 73 | 36.6 | .439 | .361 | .916 | 4.5 | 6.6 | 1.1 | .4 | 26.9 |
| 2018-19 | Portland | 80 | 80 | 35.5 | .444 | .369 | .912 | 4.6 | 6.9 | 1.1 | .4 | 25.8 |
| 2019-20 | Portland | 66 | 66 | 37.5 | .463 | .401 | .888 | 4.3 | 8.0 | 1.1 | .3 | 30.0 |
| 2020-21 | Portland | 67 | 67 | 35.8 | .451 | .391 | .928 | 4.2 | 7.5 | .9 | .3 | 28.8 |
| 2021-22 | Portland | 29 | 29 | 36.4 | .402 | .324 | .878 | 4.1 | 7.3 | .6 | .4 | 24.0 |
| 2022-23 | Portland | 58 | 58 | 36.3 | .463 | .371 | .914 | 4.8 | 7.3 | .9 | .3 | 32.2 |
| 2023-24 | Milwaukee | 73 | 73 | 35.3 | .424 | .354 | .920 | 4.4 | 7.0 | 1.0 | .2 | 24.3 |
| Career | 842 | 842 | 36.2 | .438 | .371 | .897 | 4.2 | 6.7 | 1.0 | .3 | 25.1 | |
| All-Star | 7 | 1 | 20.4 | .475 | .424 | 1.000 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 1.0 | .0 | 22.3 | |
9.1.2. Play-in
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Portland | 1 | 1 | 44.9 | .400 | .357 | 1.000 | 2.0 | 10.0 | 1.0 | .0 | 31.0 |
| Career | 1 | 1 | 44.9 | .400 | .357 | 1.000 | 2.0 | 10.0 | 1.0 | .0 | 31.0 | |
9.1.3. Playoffs
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Portland | 11 | 11 | 42.3 | .439 | .386 | .894 | 5.1 | 6.5 | 1.0 | .1 | 22.9 |
| 2015 | Portland | 5 | 5 | 40.2 | .406 | .161 | .781 | 4.0 | 4.6 | .4 | .6 | 21.6 |
| 2016 | Portland | 11 | 11 | 39.8 | .368 | .393 | .910 | 4.3 | 6.3 | 1.3 | .3 | 26.5 |
| 2017 | Portland | 4 | 4 | 37.7 | .433 | .281 | .960 | 4.5 | 3.3 | 1.3 | .5 | 27.8 |
| 2018 | Portland | 4 | 4 | 40.6 | .352 | .300 | .882 | 4.5 | 4.8 | 1.3 | .0 | 18.5 |
| 2019 | Portland | 16 | 16 | 40.6 | .418 | .373 | .833 | 4.8 | 6.6 | 1.7 | .3 | 26.9 |
| 2020 | Portland | 4 | 4 | 35.6 | .406 | .394 | .970 | 3.5 | 4.3 | .5 | .3 | 24.3 |
| 2021 | Portland | 6 | 6 | 41.3 | .463 | .449 | .940 | 4.3 | 10.2 | 1.0 | .7 | 34.3 |
| 2024 | Milwaukee | 4 | 4 | 39.1 | .420 | .417 | .974 | 3.3 | 5.0 | 1.0 | .0 | 31.3 |
| Career | 65 | 65 | 40.2 | .412 | .373 | .894 | 4.4 | 6.2 | 1.2 | .3 | 26.1 | |
9.2. College
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-09 | Weber State | 31 | 26 | 29.4 | .434 | .374 | .841 | 3.9 | 2.9 | 1.1 | .2 | 11.5 |
| 2009-10 | Weber State | 31 | 31 | 34.3 | .431 | .393 | .853 | 4.0 | 3.6 | 1.1 | .1 | 19.9 |
| 2010-11 | Weber State | 10 | 9 | 28.5 | .438 | .345 | .857 | 3.8 | 3.3 | 1.4 | .2 | 17.7 |
| 2011-12 | Weber State | 32 | 32 | 34.5 | .467 | .409 | .887 | 5.0 | 4.0 | 1.5 | .2 | 24.5 |
| Career | 104 | 98 | 32.3 | .446 | .390 | .867 | 4.3 | 3.5 | 1.2 | .2 | 18.6 | |
10. Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Space Jam: A New Legacy | Himself, Voice of Chronos |