Portland Trail Blazers: What’s Next For Damian Lillard

Your 2012-13 Rookie of the Year, Damian Lillard. Photo Credit: NBA.com

Damian Lillard averaged 6.1 assists and 3.1 rebounds, playing in all 82 games this season. He also broke Stephen Curry‘s rookie record for 3-pointers in a season, finishing with 185, and became just the third NBA rookie with at least 1,500 points and 500 assists, following Oscar Robertson and Allen Iverson.

Additionally, the Blazers’ point guard swept all six of the league’s Rookie of the Month awards this season.

Lillard is just the fourth player in league history to win the Rookie of the Year unanimously, joining Blake Griffin in 2011, David Robinson in 1990 and Ralph Sampson in 1984.

Throughout the season, Lillard impressed many, including Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant.

“He’s fantastic, really fantastic,”  Bryant said after the two squared off in a game. “A lot of players get hot, but he’s got the moves, the patience, intelligence, the balance on his jumpers. He’s the real deal.”

So what’s next for the now sophomore?

If his raw production dips a bit next year, don’t assume that Lillard is struggling. That’ll be a natural side effect of a (hopefully) decreased minute allotment. Chances are, as Lillard’s counting numbers decline slightly, his rate stats will spike.

However, defense was an issue for the 6’3″ point guard as his defensive positioning and stance were exploited numerous times by opposing guards. Lillard has realized this weakness and plans to improve this aspect of his game by working with arguably the greatest defensive point guard of all time, Gary Payton.

“(Payton) was one of the greater point guard defenders ever to play in the NBA, so I’m sure he can show me a few things. But at the end of the day, I’m the one that’s gonna have to make the change and want to be a better defender.”

Lillard’s expectations are clear.

“I think I can be more productive than I was,” he said.[slider_pro id=”25″]