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. He recalled some of the challenges attending the very diverse Oakland public high school and playing basketball against local schools with tough backgrounds. Damian Lillard Weber State certainly was fortunate Lillard signed before averaging 28 points as a senior at Oakland High. Oakland taught Lillard hard work. The words cut deep, but Lillard was listening. Lillards 3, his 11th of the night to tie his career high, made it 113-103 with 6:43 left. (But) I knew right from wrong because of my foundation. He understood what they were going to come out and do. High School: Oakland High School [Oakland, California] 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. MaxPreps is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. It was wild here. Is he the greatest Trail Blazer of all time? Im not scared of nobody. He was selected No. "It's just a tough loss on our home floor. I stuck with it for the most part. In their next game, Lillard scored 36 points on 15-of-26 shooting. Fearless, and competitive. 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. Still, he scored 20 or more points for the 22nd consecutive appearance. Almost casual, like he made it look easy.. Stephen Curry's career high is 62, short of Lillard,'s 71, and his 11 50-point games also trail Lillard's total, as do Kevin Durant's nine. Damian Lillard was largely overlooked as a high schooler. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. That was actually the first time being tested in my career after a game.. Education is the key to getting where a lot of them need to get to. You couldnt leave the locker room with your gym bag until you were leaving the school. He didnt want us to lose. The teams traded leads eight times and neither led by more than six points. Trust me, if the ball was in Dames hands then everybody knew. He was never highly regarded as a youth, and as a sophomore in high school he was benched. He was our best scorer, and he was carrying us at the time, so it was like hey, if it goes in, enjoy that time, so go ahead and shoot. The Trail Blazers Damian Lillard scored 41 points (12-25 FG, 5-12 3Pt, 12-12 FT), seven assists, and one block in 43 minutes in Portlands 113-111 overtime win over the Suns on Friday. 13 Clovis North, Oakland Tech girls rout Priory to reach Division III final, Carlmont boys lose on 40-foot shot at the buzzer. He transferred from Oakland High School to Weber State as a junior and senior, where he excelled both as a junior and senior before earning a scholarship as a two-star recruit. Find out more. He has been named Oregon Sportswriter of the Year four times by the National Sports Media Association and has been recognized by APSE and the Pro Basketball Writers Association. He added a driving layup and a free throw. He loves Oakland. Lillards performance was so special that even league officials took notice and randomly drug tested him immediately after the contest. I think that Dame played for an AAU with a bunch of other guards, and he was their main scorer. And I turned to him and said, Thats because they are expecting a run like, they are expecting something. And that was our interaction then we walked to half court.. A star-studded performance on Sunday night helped lift his team to victory, giving them a solid case for a play-in appearance. From Damon Stoudamire to Damian Lillard, he has covered the team for over two decades. But once again, one point short.. 2023 ESPN Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. This is where Damian Lillard calls home. Lillard scored a career-best 71 points in Sunday's 131-114 victory over the Houston Rockets but barely reached a third of that amount -- 25 -- during Tuesday's 123-105 road loss to the Golden State Warriors. Writers Note: This article was written as recently as the Portland Trail Blazers Sunday night home game against the Houston Rockets. You have moments where you're just trying to find your rhythm and confidence, and that's where we are.". Javascript is required for the selection of a player. Damian Lillard is unrealpic.twitter.com/aD1Z14N3BB, CBS Sports (@CBSSports) February 27, 2023. The 2013 NBA Rookie of the Year has blossomed into the face of the Portlands franchise and an NBA star. They have been to the playoffs eight times, an excellent mark for Blazer fans. Thats when I realized how tough it could be. Wednesday's contest will mark the first time that Lillard and CJ McCollum will be on the floor as opponents. Funny enough, crazy is a word Lillard used to describe the night. When they respected his ability to drive, Lillard hit 3s. How much does Damian Lillard make? Lillard was just 2 of 7 from behind the arc after hitting 13 treys against Houston to tie for the second most in NBA history. Lillard ranks second in the NBA this season in three pointers with 183, trailing only Steph Curry (188). Dame, Dame Time, Big Game Dame, Sub Zero, Logo Lillard, Dame D.O.L.L.A. Instagram: He connected on 22 of 38 field goal attempts while making 13 of 22 threes and sinking 14 of 14 free throws. For his sophomore year, Lillard transferred to St. Joseph Notre Dame High School in Alameda, California, the same private school that had produced former NBA point guard Jason Kidd; but by years end, a lack of playing time prompted Lillard to transfer schools yet again. 2 Oakland upset in NorCal semis, but a young roster headlined by rising star I was anxious. For the Wildcats, Lillard averaged 22.4 points per game, 5.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists during his senior season. It was the full display of power, quickness and tenacity that has defined his 11-year career. This is the second time Lillard has surpassed 60 points this season and the fifth time for his career. Aaron Fentress | The Oregonian/OregonLive, third all time behind Kobe Bryant (five) and Wilt Chamberlain (32), Lillards 71 points is only the 13th game in NBA history. The elder Damian Lillard beams, lifting his knee-high son inches from his face. He thought he had finally made it but his longtime Oakland Rebels AAU coach Raymond Young didnt share the same sense of satisfaction. And (sometimes) Im looking at it at I dont even know what the hell that is (like) why is this an expensive piece of art?. That motivated me a lot I really believed I was going to make it to the NBA. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Damian Lillard during his senior season at Oakland High School, when he averaged 22.9 points per game when the Wildcats went 23-9, losing in the NorCal semifinals to De La Salle. Coming up here, I knew there was going to be a lot of my people there enjoying the show and the students. The police force creates more scandal than a Shonda Rhimes production and has been supervised by federal judge to wean the incessant corruption. Considering he gave a urine sample on Saturday, he said he was stunned after the game when he was directed into the training room for a blood draw. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Note, this is done in an automated way, so we apologize for any errors, & please. Another pass led to a Thybulle 3-pointer. The highlight of that night was when, in a tie game, Lillard dribbled the ball upcourt with 13 seconds left. The force of his fourth-quarter dunk. Copyright 2023 STATS LLC and Associated Press. A post shared by Damian Lillard (@damianlillard), I mean, honestly, I was like, Are yall serious? Lillard said Sunday during his postgame news conference. It was good for all the students to see how important that part is. Those are the moments that make you., NBA 75: Damian Lillard went from milk-crate hoops to Dame Time: Im just a believer. Williams was reportedly an innocent bystander trapped in a fight between two men. Lillards efforts helped him be named the first player in Big Sky history to go All-American. 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. Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard, left, drives to the basket on Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr., right, during their NBA Starting Point retold: Why not Drew Brees? The Houston Rockets certainly fit that category and Damian Lillard did all that he could to make sure an upset loss didnt become a possibility. Little did Billups realize, he would be even more impressed in the opening minutes of the second half. As Money Jr. tells it, his grandmothers brother struck it rich, and she went on to bequeath one of her children with the name. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Sunday was the Blazers first home game since the All-Star break, so the team planned to honor Lillard before the national anthem for winning the 3-point shooting contest at All-Star weekend in Salt Lake City. Ever. are nicknames for Damian Lillard. Ive seen pieces of art, Lillard said. It was crazy because it took me back, Lillard told The Undefeated after the event Friday. Surprisingly, this game was within reach for the Rockets as they only lost by 17. In the 2014-15 season, Damian Lillard was named the NBAs NBA rookie of the year. In 2015, he signed a five-year contract with the Trail Blazers worth a total of US$ 120 million. 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. Jason Quick is a senior writer for The Athletic covering the Portland Trail Blazers. Do you have a blog? AP. Lillard left Weber State in 2012 to become the face of the university. After being selected by Portland with the sixth overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft, Lillard was unanim Thats where his heart comes from hes fearless, says Houston Lillard, Jr., 26. Rappers Lil Uzi Vert, Fetty Wap and DJ Esco even showed up to support. Lillard, a long-range sharpshooter in the mold of Steph Curry, was already shooting at a high clip from beyond the arc in high school. IRS delays tax deadline for Bay Area, but California hasn't followed: What should you do? He wasnt facilitating, getting other people involved as much as if he was the lead guard. Money yes, thats his given name, and yes, theres a story may be the best player to pass through Oakland High since Damian Lillard. Yes, Damian Lillard started in high school. Williams final free throw put Oakland ahead 59-56, a minute away from reaching the Division III NorCal finals. Damian Lamonte Ollie Lillard Sr. (born July 15, 1990 ) is an American professional basketball player for the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Since he was a member of the Portland Trail Blazers, he has had several great seasons, but has yet to win a scoring title. The most rudimentary materials produced one of the games most prolific and picturesque shooters. He played for the varsity basketball team at his high school in Oakland, California. Lillard exploded from the get-go, scoring 16 in the first and a total of 41 for the half, which included an unreal 36 fast break three that was almost from halfcourt to close out his first half. Lillard 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. Lillard was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers with the sixth overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft and has since established himself as one of the best players in the league. He knew his sense was real after he hit his second 3-pointer in the first quarter. Evan Webeck is the San Francisco Giants beat writer for the Bay Area News Group. 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. We present them here for purely educational purposes. Lillard scored a career-high 71 points to lead the Blazers to an 131-114 victory at the Moda Center. They know Im scared of needles I know I have a lot of tattoos, but when you are doing a blood draw its different than tattoos, Lillard said. If a single arm bent, then everyone had to run. I was just having a hard time, Lillard said. Big dude is a load, Watkins said. The future Trail Blazers star was named Big Sky Player of the Year twice and capped off his senior season with 24.5 points per game for Weber State. He let me transfer to Oakland High before the year was over. I think Weber did a great job recruiting him and making him feel at home.. The Daily Campus is UConn's independent, student-run newspaper. Despite having one of the best outside shooting percentages in the NBA, he has never been able to win a scoring title because his three-point attempts fail to convert. He wants to get there.. I didnt want to be here. Like, I love telling my draft story and my last two years at Weber and everything Ive been through because it was real. Lillard has hit that mark twice and bested it once. Youre not going to find Youngs tactics in a guide on how to coach youth basketball. The Trail Blazers vs. the Rockets wasnt a game many had marked on their calendar, as Houston is all but eliminated with a 13-47 record thus far while Portland has flirted with a .500 record all season. All rights reserved (About Us). The central air didnt work; sometimes neither did the lights. He was named an All-Star in 2014 and has helped lead the Blazers to the playoffs in each of the last four seasons. Damian Lillards high school coach says Logo Lillard existed back then. It is in Oakland where Lillard learned the moves his dagger step-back jump shot, the deadly reverse backspin layup that have earned him consecutive NBA Western Conference Rookie of the Month awards. Yeah, we had that in high school, Watkins told Dennis Scott. More recently, Lillard has gone back to his roots, raising money to improve his alma maters gym, music facilities and a new weight room. To his credit, he just kept working, Lippi says. I was like, are you serious? Lillard said. As a youth, he learned to shoot in his grandmothers yardin Oakland, Calif., where there was an oak tree. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. Born: Jul 15, 1990 (32 years old) Birthplace/Hometown: Oakland, California. His brother Houston, a Indoor Football League quarterback, is the brother of LaNae, his sister. Rap stars Fetty Wap, DJ Esco and Lil Uzi Vert also performed on a makeshift stage before Lillards arrival for the students, who knew all the latest dances and hip-hop slang. The Brookfield Rec offers two meeting rooms large enough for quinceaeras. Watkins offered to take him 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. He is a scoring machine who always helps his team win. Lillard played college basketball for the Weber State Wildcats, where he was named the 2012 Big Sky Conference Mens Basketball Player of the Year and earned third-team All-American honors. And Lillard sat out when Portland won this season's first meeting, 106-95 on Nov. 10 in New Orleans. Jerami Grant scored 27 points for Portland that night, while Zion Williamson scored 29 for the Pelicans. Damian Lamonte Ollie Lillard Getty Images. One of the Blazers trademarks in the Lillard era has been late-season surges after the All-Star break, usually led by emphatic play from the point guard. Former UConn basketball star Cliff Robinson dead at 53, Gilsons Sports Guide: All-Star weekend is back. 2 Oakland heads home, Watkins and his star player were both left unsatisfied. It just felt like something, Lillard said. But Lejuan Watts answered with what he had done all night for Bullard and bullied his way to the basket, crossing over behind his back and taking his defender off the dribble for his final of 15 points, cutting Oaklands lead to 59-58. Portland needs Lillard to have more explosive nights like Sunday, and if he does, this Blazer team can certainly win on any given night. He played for the varsity basketball team at his high school in Oakland, California. ), Position: He used to be able to dunk on you, but he hasnt been able to in years and his knees still hurt. Bolted doors and insults are nothing to a boy from Brookfield Village. It comes as no surprise that Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard is one of the all-time best NBA players. WebDamian Lillard has made at least $193,078,512 playing professional basketball. Lillard passed to Matisse Thybulle for a dunk. His ridiculous range from the logo has players around the league trying to step up their game. They pushed the ball. In his sweatsuit pocket was another bottle of water, unopened. I was at St. [Josephs Notre Dame High School] my sophomore year and at the end of the first marking period I was ineligible for a little bit. Damian Lillard chose Weber State long before Weber State chose him. On Saturday, Lillard planted seeds throughout the team that its urgency needed to rise for the seasons final 23 games, and he was intent on showing the way. There was a prescient conversation with general manager Joe Cronin before the national anthem. But he had just six in the second half while hounded by multiple defenders and the Trail Blazers were outscored 75-40. Are yall serious 2023 ESPN Enterprises, Inc. all rights reserved yeah, we had that in high and! Writers Note: this article was written as recently as the Portland Blazers!.. 2023 ESPN Enterprises, Inc. all rights reserved has blossomed into the face of the last seasons. 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