Don’t sleep on Damian Lillard
Heading into the 2012-2013 NBA season, most basketball analysts and fans had their places with Anthony Davis, the star forward for the University of Kentucky. Now that we’re in the middle of the NBA season (as of this writing), the hype surrounding Davis seems to have faded, shifting instead to Portland Trailblazers rookie Damian Lillard. Lillard has easily been the most surprising rookie this season because of the great year he’s had.
While Davis is having a solid rookie year, Lillard’s numbers for the season make Davis look inferior by comparison. This isn’t a knock on Davis or anything, as the guy is having a solid year, but for a No. 1 pick, he hasn’t lived up to the hype surrounding him. Lillard, on the other hand, has been putting up some impressive offensive numbers this year, including a career-high 37 points in a losing effort against the Golden State Warriors.
Lillard also became the third player in NBA history to record at least 20 points and 10 assists in his debut. He joins Isaiah Thomas and Oscar Robertson on that short list. Now that is a very good company to have right there. He also became only the second player in NBA history to score 20 points in his first three games as a rookie. Do you know who the other guy is that does it? Oscar Robertson. Once again, Lillard is in the company of a legend.
One thing that has been very impressive about Lillard is how quickly he was able to adapt to the NBA game. Most rookies, especially those playing the starting point guard position, would have a hard time adjusting to the faster style of the NBA. However, Lillard showed from the start of the season that he was ready to be in the NBA.
He has a sweet shot that makes him a threat from anywhere on the pitch, and in addition to scoring, he’s also a good playmaker. Portland has definitely found itself with a very promising young guard in Damian Lillard because as long as he stays healthy, he can only get better. For now, Lillard is the clear pick for Rookie of the Year. Anthony Davis still has a chance to make a statement to that effect, but so far, Lillard appears to be holding on to that distinction with an iron fist.
