Damian Lillard Memphis Grizzlies Shot (2015)

Lore & Background

In 2021, Lillard won a gold medal for the U.S. Olympic team in the 2020 Summer Olympics. That same year, he was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team. In 2023, after a trade request, he was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks. In his first season with Milwaukee, he was named the All-Star Game MVP and later won the NBA Cup in 2024. After suffering an Achilles injury during the 2025 playoffs, Lillard was released by the Bucks after two seasons and subsequently rejoined the Trail Blazers on a three-year deal. Outside of basketball, Lillard is also a rapper, under the stage name Dame D.O.L.L.A.

Reader's Guide

Lillard began his high school career at Arroyo High School in San Lorenzo, California, and joined the varsity starting lineup as a freshman. He transferred to St. Joseph Notre Dame High School in Alameda, California, for his sophomore year, then to Oakland High School, where he was First Team All-League his junior and senior years. As a senior, he averaged 22.4 points and 5.2 assists per game while leading the Oakland Wildcats to a 23–9 record. Regarded as a two-star prospect by Rivals.com, he accepted a scholarship to Weber State. In college, he was named Big Sky Conference Freshman of the Year and first-team All-Big Sky as a freshman, Big Sky Player of the Year as a sophomore, and after a medical redshirt year, he averaged 24.5 points as a redshirt junior and won his second Big Sky Player of the Year award. He finished his college career as the No. 2 scorer in Weber State history (1,934 points) and the No. 5 scorer in Big Sky history. He completed his degree in professional sales from Weber State University in May 2015. In the NBA, Lillard was selected sixth overall in 2012 by the Trail Blazers, won Rookie of the Year in 2012–13, and became a nine-time All-Star and seven-time All-NBA selection. He was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in 2023, won the All-Star Game MVP and NBA Cup in 2024, and after an Achilles injury in the 2025 playoffs, was released by the Bucks and rejoined the Trail Blazers on a three-year deal.

Did You Know?

• He was the first rookie to lead the NBA in total minutes played since Elvin Hayes in 1968–69.
• Lillard broke the NBA rookie record for three-pointers in a season with 185 in 2012–13.
• He scored a college career-high 41 points against San Jose State in 2011.
• Lillard was a finalist for the Bob Cousy Award in college.