Portland Trail Blazers: 2017-18 player grades for Damian Lillard

Highlights

An All-Star campaign like Damian Lillard’s is bound to come with a number of highlights.

Lillard scored in bunches throughout the season. He dropped at least 30 points in a game 25 times in 2017-18. That includes three performances where he finished in the 40s and one 50-point night.

Notably, Dame accomplished his season-high 50 points on Feb. 9 at the Sacramento Kings in only 29 minutes of play. He also scored 41 points on March 27 against the Pelicans. It was Lillard’s last game before leaving the team to witness the birth of his son.

His 44 points on Feb. 14 helped the Blazers defeat the Golden State Warriors and kicked off 13-game winning streak. Lillard averaged 30.5 points during the streak.

“Dame Time” was also activated on several occasions throughout the year. The first time occurred on Nov. 2, when Lillard hit a game-winning 3-pointer over Brandon Ingram and the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Lakers would fall victim a second time on March 5, with Lillard scoring 19 points in the fourth quarter — including four consecutive 3-pointers — to give the Blazers the win.

The biggest instance of Dame Time in 2018 was the comeback he spearheaded on Feb. 24 over the Phoenix Suns. Lillard scored 19 points in the fourth quarter and helped Portland come back from down 15 points. The game was decided when he drove in a layup with 0.9 seconds left, putting an exclamation point on a 40-point, 10-rebound night.

There were plenty of highlights off-the-court as well. Lillard’s son, Damian Houston Lillard, was born on March 29. Dame Sr. also released a rap album, Confirmed, on Oct. 6.

Lastly, after dropping 21 points at the 2018 All-Star Game, Lillard helped the Blazers organization reimburse NBA legend and broadcaster Charles Barkley for a trip he took to Portland in the mid-90s.