NBA Player Power Rankings: Change of the Guard

Mar 16, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) steals the ball from New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) during the third quarter at Sleep Train Arena. The Pelicans defeated the Kings 123-108. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports /

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Mar 14, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (center) leads his team onto the floor prior to action against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

7. Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers

Last Rank: No. 6

Position: Point Guard

Age: 25

Slash Line: .429/.377/.883

Season Averages: 35.8 MPG, 25.7 PPG, 6.9 APG, 4.2 RPG, 0.9 SPG, 3.1 3PM

What Damian Lillard has done in 2015-16 cannot be downplayed or overlooked. The numbers are tremendous, the signature moments are in abundance, and the Portland Trail Blazers are severely overachieving.

To keep Lillard out of the Top 10 would be to ignore how improbable his and the Trail Blazers’ success has been.

Portland lost five starters from 2014-15, including the shooting guard who replaced the original starting shooting guard. Arron Afflalo and Robin Lopez signed with the New York Knicks, LaMarcus Aldridge chose the San Antonio Spurs, Wesley Matthews went to the Dallas Mavericks, and Nicolas Batum was traded to the Charlotte Hornets.

What Neil Olshey replaced that high-profile roster with is a deep and solid rotation, but one without the firepower to compete in the Western Conference—or so we thought.

Lillard has embraced the challenge of proving the skeptics wrong, thriving as Terry Stotts grants him the ultimate green light. He’s not doing Stephen Curry things with the way he shoots and scores, primarily because he’s been doing this since he entered the league.

Eternally underrated, Lillard has been one of the most influential players of the 2015-16 NBA regular season.

Next: 23 and Dominant