Hoops Habit
Fansided

NBA: Top 10 Active Players From Mid-Majors

By Maxwell Ogden

Mar 30, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) and Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) fight for a loose ball during the second half at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Golden State won in overtime 103-96. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 30, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) and Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) fight for a loose ball during the second half at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Golden State won in overtime 103-96. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
8 of 11
Next
May 7, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) celebrates in the fourth quarter against the Golden State Warriors in game three of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports
May 7, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) celebrates in the fourth quarter against the Golden State Warriors in game three of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers

School: Weber State Wildcats (Big Sky Conference)
Position: Point Guard
Age: 26 (7/15/1990)
2015-16 Slash Line: .419/.375/.892
2015-16 Season Averages: 35.7 MPG, 25.1 PPG, 6.8 APG, 4.0 RPG, 0.9 SPG, 3.1 3PM
Accolades: Rookie of the Year (2013), All-NBA Second Team, All-NBA Third Team, 2x All-Star

The Portland Trail Blazers found the ultimate diamond in the rough in point guard Damian Lillard. Most other players on this list achieved notoriety on the college basketball front, but Lillard wasn’t exactly one of them.

Lillard’s upside was discussed in NBA draft circles, but as the star for the Weber State Wildcats, he wasn’t featured in many national headlines.

Since arriving in the NBA, Lillard has done everything in his power to establish himself as a future superstar. He won Rookie of the Year in 2012-13 and has since been named to the All-NBA Second Team and All-NBA Third Team.

A proven postseason performer who averaged a career-high 25.1 points and 6.8 assists in 2015-16, that superstar status may have been achieved.

Though his average of 25.1 points per game set a new career-high, it was actually the third time he’d exceeded 20 a night. He also has a career postseason average of 24.1 points and 6.1 assists with two trips beyond the first round.

Lillard and McCollum are being groomed as Portland’s version of The Splash Brothers. Lillard appears to be closing in on Stephen Curry territory.

Next: Two-Way Force