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NBA: 5 Superstars Poised For Career Years In 2016-17

By Gerald Bourguet

May 10, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook (0) drives to the basket as San Antonio Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard (2) defends in game five of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
May 10, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook (0) drives to the basket as San Antonio Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard (2) defends in game five of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 26, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) poses during media day at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Damian Lillard

Probably the riskiest pick of the five, since the Portland Trail Blazers spent their summer buying too far into last season’s promise.

Though Rip City defied the odds by winning 44 games and making the second round of the playoffs — as opposed to being the tanking team most expected them to be — how much better can they get after overpaying to keep everyone and splurging on Evan Turner? And if Blake Griffin and Chris Paul hadn’t gotten hurt, would their season have ended in the first round?

In any case, even if the rest of the West does catch back up to the surprising Blazers this year, Damian Lillard has churned out a season better than the last in pretty much every year since his rookie campaign:

  • 2012-13:  19.0 PPG, 6.5 APG, 3.1 RPG, 0.9 SPG, .429/.368/.844 shooting
  • 2013-14:  20.7 PPG, 5.6 APG, 3.5 RPG, 0.8 SPG, .424/.394/.817 shooting
  • 2014-15:  21.0 PPG, 6.2 APG, 4.6 RPG, 1.2 SPG, .434/.343/.864 shooting
  • 2015-16:  25.1 PPG, 6.8 APG, 4.0 RPG, 0.9 SPG, .419/.375/.892 shooting

Last year he posted career highs in scoring, assists and free throw percentage — and that was his first season shouldering the load on offense with LaMarcus Aldridge, Nicolas Batum and Wesley Matthews all departing in the offseason.

It’s hard to see Lillard getting too much better than last year’s 25-7-4 stat line, but if he can increase his shooting efficiency and continue to lead this young Blazers squad into a new era, it might be time to stop betting against one the NBA’s most determined players — especially if he’s snubbed for the All-Star Game once again.