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NBA Player Power Rankings: Superstars Keep Making History

By Maxwell Ogden

Mar 26, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) shake hands after a game at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 26, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) shake hands after a game at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 26, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) drives to the basket on Los Angeles Lakers forward Larry Nance Jr. (7) during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 26, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) drives to the basket on Los Angeles Lakers forward Larry Nance Jr. (7) during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports /

18. Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers

Position: Point Guard
Age: 26 (7/15/1990)
Experience: 5th Season
2016-17 Slash Line: .448/.370/.893
2016-17 Season Averages: 35.8 MPG, 26.7 PPG, 5.9 APG, 4.9 RPG, 0.9 SPG, 2.8 3PM

After a dreadfully disappointing start to the season, Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers have been one of the hottest teams in the NBA. Since March 1, the Trail Blazers have amassed a strong record of 13-3 in 16 games played.

With Portland now in hot pursuit of what was once believed to be an elusive postseason appearance, Damian Lillard has returned to the Top 20.

Lillard began this past week by methodically picking the Minnesota Timberwolves apart. He posted 21 points, eight assists, six rebounds, and two steals on 8-of-13 shooting from the field and 3-of-6 shooting from 3-point range in just three quarters of a 112-100 victory.

Lillard also tallied 22 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and three steals against the Los Angeles Lakers, and 19 points, seven assists, six rebounds, and three steals against the Nuggets.

With Portland now back in the postseason picture, Lillard deserves to be in the Top 20. He’s widely regarded as the leader of the Trail Blazers, as well as the go-to scorer in the clutch and the primary offensive playmaker.

The icing on Lillard’s second consecutive week in the Top 20: the 31 points and 11 assists he posted during a 117-107 victory over James Harden and the Houston Rockets.