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Portland Trail Blazers: How The Blazers Have Become A Superpower

By Greg Chin

Dec 2, 2013; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers power forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) speaks with small forward Nicolas Batum (88), point guard Damian Lillard (0), center Robin Lopez (42) and shooting guard Wesley Matthews (2) during the fourth quarter of the game against the Indiana Pacers at the Moda Center. The Blazers won the game 106-102. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 2, 2013; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers power forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) speaks with small forward Nicolas Batum (88), point guard Damian Lillard (0), center Robin Lopez (42) and shooting guard Wesley Matthews (2) during the fourth quarter of the game against the Indiana Pacers at the Moda Center. The Blazers won the game 106-102. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 2, 2014; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) makes a three pointer at the buzzer over Houston Rockets forward Chandler Parsons (25) to win the game during the fourth quarter in game six of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports
May 2, 2014; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) makes a three pointer at the buzzer over Houston Rockets forward Chandler Parsons (25) to win the game during the fourth quarter in game six of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports /

Drafting Damian Lillard

On March 15, 2012, the Portland Trail Blazers traded away Gerald Wallace for a top three-protected first round pick and salary filler to the Brooklyn Nets. That pick would end up being the sixth overall draft pick for the 2012 NBA Draft. With that selection, the Blazers drafted Damian Lillard.

Lillard was widely regarded as the top point guard prospect in the country, but there were doubts on whether he could succeed in the NBA. He played at Weber State, and the concerns stemmed from him playing on a “smaller” team.

But soon, those concerns were dispelled as Lillard went about proving that he belonged in the league. He finished his rookie season winning the Rookie of the Year award, and was just the fourth rookie to win the award unanimously.

He made the All-Star team in his sophomore year, and became the first NBA player to participate in all five All-Star events during the All-Star Weekend. He helped the Blazers to a fifth place finish in the Western Conference, after a blistering start to the season.

Lillard continued to raise his stock with his game-winning, series-deciding, buzzer beater against the Houston Rockets on May 2, 2014. Again, Lillard joined an esteemed group of three other players (Ralph Sampson, Michael Jordan, John Stockton) as the only players in NBA history to make a game-winning buzzer beater to clinch a playoff series.

This season, Lillard hasn’t stopped improving his game. He’s averaging more points, assists, rebounds, and steals, all the while shooting more efficiently. He is one of the league’s best clutch shooters — just look at his career shooting numbers during overtime.

Damian Lillard may not have the same upside and potential as Brandon Roy and Greg Oden did, but he’s been one of the driving forces behind the Blazers’ rise. Drafting him was the first step of the Blazers’ return to the top of the West.

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