NBA Player Power Rankings: Stephen Curry Sends a Message

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Oct 28, 2015; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) drives past New Orleans Pelicans guard Eric Gordon (10) during the first quarter at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports /

17. Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers

Position: Point Guard

Age: 25

2015-16 Slash Line: .381/.143/1.000

2015-16 Season Averages: 36.0 MPG, 21.0 PPG, 11.0 APG, 5.0 RPG, 2.0 SPG, 1.0 3PM

The Portland Trail Blazers aren’t expected to win many games in 2015-16. The players clearly didn’t get the message, as Portland dominated the New Orleans Pelicans 112-94 in the season opener.

As expected, Damian Lillard played a major factor in that.

Lillard posted a double-double, recording 21 points and 11 assists to pace Portland’s offensive attack. He didn’t shoot very well—8-of-21 from the field and 1-of-7 from 3-point range—but this was a major development in Lillard’s career.

After posting just six double-doubles in 2014-15, Lillard already has his first of 2015-16.

Long known as an explosive scorer who lacks the ideal facilitating vision, Lillard is out to prove his critics wrong. The 25-year-old is already an All-NBA honoree, but taking the next step as a distributor will be vital to Portland’s potential success.

Surprisingly, despite his 21 and 11, Lillard wasn’t even Portland’s best player against New Orleans. We’ll get to that.

Next: No. 1 and No. 10