I know a lot of kids walked out of it like, Thats crazy.. July 15, This is also the most points attempted by a player in NBA history, and it is also the most points ever attempted by a player in a season. He ultimately decided to attend Weber State, a small school in Utah. However, the 19,215 fans that attended the game were in for a treat, as generational talent Lillard had himself a career game. A record-setting tradition continued in the locker room. The absence of Damian Lillard, one of the most dynamic and explosive players in the league, will have a significant impact on the team. Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, and Bradley Beal were chosen ahead of Lillard as a result of this selection. To this day, Lillard, who normally speaks in measured tones and portrays a sense of indomitable cool, will break character on this topic. With 19.8 points per game, Williams produced at about the same clip this season as Lillard did (19.4 ppg) after he transferred in for his junior year in 2006-07. There, he got more playing time and, in turn, averaged 20 points per game his junior year and 28 his senior year. About the teenager who worked out Friday evenings instead of partying. You dont play hard, you dont practice hard. Im next and Im going to do the same thing. While few schools showed Lillard interest, the right one came calling. The Rockets were led with 17 points each from Alperen Sengun and JaeSean Tate. During his freshman season, he averaged 12.5 points. Neither do we. If you adjust for inflation, it is the lowest average in any player who has ever won a scoring title. However, when Portland fans think of the moment that defined who Lillard is, it would be in Game 5 of 2019s first round matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder. I did the urine test yesterday and they backed it up with the blood draw tonight after the game and it was actually the first time in my career being tested after a game. There was a prescient conversation with general manager Joe Cronin before the national anthem. (Basketball) is art to me because there are so many things that go on within a team, within a game, within a season, Lillard said. 6 overall. Copyright 2023 STATS LLC and Associated Press. OAKLAND In his first action after being eliminated, coach Orlando Watkins walked to midcourt, outstretched his arm, and picked his star player up from the hardwood. His voice rises and flashes hints of anger when he talks about his St. Joe days. And to his teammates, it was the almost effortless manner in which he tied the NBAs highest-scoring performance this season. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. (But) I knew right from wrong because of my foundation. The central air didnt work; sometimes neither did the lights. Lillards 3, his 11th of the night to tie his career high, made it 113-103 with 6:43 left. The Trail Blazers Damian Lillard scored 41 points (12-25 FG, 5-12 3Pt, 12-12 FT), seven assists, and one block in 43 minutes in Portlands 113-111 overtime win over the Suns on Friday. Lillard didnt take his first shot of the second half until 8:42 left in the third. When they respected his ability to drive, Lillard hit 3s. Living with the price of being Damian Lillard, More than a Trail Blazer in Portland: Im where I need to be, Damian Lillard and Bradley Beal, an NBA superstar friendship built around loyalty, Recognizing the moment of truth that defines Dame Time, Its about Dame Time: Insight into his late-game magic, I just go for it: Trail Blazers Damian Lillard and his feeling when he gets hot, From rage to redemption: The night they roared in Rip City, Damian Lillard and Chef B: How his 61-point masterpiece got help from above. As a result, he signed a two-year, $120 million extension this winter, and he will lead a reorganized team in the coming season, with Anfernee Simons, Jerami Grant, and Jusuf Nurkic joining him. Damian Lillard on Twitter: "Shoutout to McDaniel High School's RESPECT Student of The Month, Mekai Anderson. McDaniel Highs TaKwain Montgomery is the epitome of Show Up, Work Hard and Be Kind. When we started to see stuff like that, I think thats when it started it got serious. Williams said he was thinking of the seniors when he fell to the floor, and Watkins listed the careers of five players coming to an end as what stung the most in a loss that ended an otherwise stellar season, Oaklands most wins in any of Watkins 17 seasons. One of the branches grew into the shape of a hoop. I think theres a lot of power in my story, just my entire life, Lillard said. But I think the big takeaway for me, is the most fun Ive had and the thing I get the most emotional about is the journey. Damian Lillard doesnt think this a special day. 4 Archbishop Riordan gets revenge on No. Stephen Curry's career high is 62, short of Lillard,'s 71, and his 11 50-point games also trail Lillard's total, as do Kevin Durant's nine. A sturdy 6-5, Watts looks like a man among boys and played like it. Support OregonLive. It was good for all the students to see how important that part is. Funnily enough, the California native broke his franchises record of 61 points, which he has done on two other occasions. Everyone knew he was taking the shot at that point, but it didnt matter Lillard was too quick. He wasnt facilitating, getting other people involved as much as if he was the lead guard. For me, its the beauty in it for where we are as a team, for one, Lillard said. When the season ended, the basketball coach there, Don Lippe, he basically told me, I dont know if youre going to be on this team. He broke down all these numbers saying, This many high school basketball players go to college, this many get a scholarship, this many play pro, this many make it to the NBA It got down to this really small number and he was like, This is how hard it is. I told him, I know, and he smirked at me and chuckled. Many of these one-on-ones devolved into wrestling matches, and Junior wouldnt let the runt win those either. Williams was reportedly an innocent bystander trapped in a fight between two men. Rap stars Fetty Wap, DJ Esco and Lil Uzi Vert also performed on a makeshift stage before Lillards arrival for the students, who knew all the latest dances and hip-hop slang. Marc J. Spears is the senior NBA writer for Andscape. He set his previous career best of 61 points on Aug. 11, 2020, against Dallas. The future Trail Blazers star was named Big Sky Player of the Year twice and capped off his senior season with 24.5 points per game for Weber State. While at Weber State, Lillard proved that he was one of the best players in the country. He let me transfer to Oakland High before the year was over. That doesnt mean its always going to go right, or its always going to be fun, but whatever happens we have to keep marching forward. PORTLAND, Ore. For years, people have been urging Damian Lillard to get into art. In his career, the Portland Trail Blazers guard has averaged 20.5 points per game, but he has never been able to reach that level. Money yes, thats his given name, and yes, theres a story may be the best player to pass through Oakland High since Damian Lillard. Portland Trail Blazers, 1st round (6th pick, 6th overall), 2012 NBA Draft, More Damian Lillard pages at Sports Reference. Lillard found a home at Oakland High, where he led the league in scoring his junior season. Gamble can hardly believe that the 22-year-old pro he watched drain a game-clinching three in Madison Square Garden is the same little boy who used to shut down the Brookfield Rec. One of the Blazers trademarks in the Lillard era has been late-season surges after the All-Star break, usually led by emphatic play from the point guard. He recalled some of the challenges attending the very diverse Oakland public high school and playing basketball against local schools with tough backgrounds. I was like, are you serious? Lillard said. We cant look at a game like tonight, like oh, we playing Houston, we supposed to win no. Damian Lillard during his senior season at Oakland High School, when he averaged 22.9 points per game when the Wildcats went 23-9, losing in the NorCal pic.twitter.com/2bxOgvcUKm. I did the urine test, then they backed that up with the blood draw tonight after the game. I grew up in East Oakland, it was tough there, Lillard says. So, they missed out. "The first order of business for us -- playing harder, playing more together -- was there," New Orleans coach Willie Green said afterward. If a single arm bent, then everyone had to run. He says he doesnt like situations where he is the center of attention, because hes unsure of how to handle the adulation. Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard, left, drives to the basket on Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr., right, during their NBA But today in East Oakland, theyll tell the stories. But please consider that Lillard would not be relaxing inside this suburban basketball sanctuary as one of the top rookies in the NBA had it not been for his home sweet home. The two-time NBA All-Star arrived back at his high school in Oakland, California, at a time when a morale boost was sorely needed. I stayed there for like two more days and I begged my dad to leave. One day after reminding his teammates of the need to raise the bar for the stretch run, Lillard stormed out of the gate with 16 first-quarter points, which included 3 of 5 from 3. One, it was his first game back after the break because Billups held him out of Thursdays game at Sacramento as a precaution after the team had a stressful, weather-plagued trip. He is shooting 45% from the field and 38% from three-point range for a 27.5% scoring average. Big dude is a load, Watkins said. While these arent the most eye-popping stats, Lillard was a three-star recruit out of high school and caught the attention of Weber State, where he excelled. Lillard had been tied with Michael Jordan and James Harden. Yeah, we had that in high school, Watkins told Dennis Scott. But as his Oakland High School coach Orlando Watkins recently told NBA on TNT, Lillard launching long-distance shots at the end of games is nothing new. Jerami Grant scored 13 points and Nassir Little came off the bench for 11. They made it back to the NorCal semifinals in 2011 and, again, were vanquished. He played college basketball for the Weber State Wildcats and earned third-team All-American honors in 2012. Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts. Oakland High wouldnt retire Lillards No. LEGENDARY. Little did Billups realize, he would be even more impressed in the opening minutes of the second half. section: | slug: damian-lillard-looks-to-lead-trail-blazers-past-pelicans | sport: basketball | route: article_single.us | Considering he gave a urine sample on Saturday, he said he was stunned after the game when he was directed into the training room for a blood draw. Jerami Grant scored 27 points for Portland that night, while Zion Williamson scored 29 for the Pelicans. I think he got a little frustrated at the beginning of the third quarter, but he adjusted, he attacked the rim, he did good things defensively. NBA point guard Jason Kidd once attended there, but Lillard could not follow his path at the private school. Moneys one of the good ones, Watkins said. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. You couldnt tell me it wasnt going to happen.. (AP Photo/Steve Dykes) APAP. Watkins offered to take him We just havent been able to get over the hump.. It just kept getting louder and louder every time he made a shot, and then it was even loud when he shot a shot and missed the oooooooh that was even loud. This offseason, Watkins says, he needs to learn when to avoid contact. Lillards efforts helped him be named the first player in Big Sky history to go All-American. He added a driving layup and a free throw. He was the stubborn little guy who showed up before the doors of the neighborhood recreation center were unlocked, wearing yesterdays shorts and bouncing the basketball his Pops had ordered from a magazine. Damian Lillard was born on July 15, 1990. Oklahoma City (28-32) lost 124-115 at Sacramento (35-25). But as 11th-seeded Bullard, which traveled three hours from Fresno for this game, advances to the NorCal final while No. 6-keys: media/spln/nba/reg/free/stories, By pressing sign up, I confirm that I have read and agree to the. To make the inconvenience worse, Lillard says he hates needles. Player stats broken down into various categories; i.e. Loyalty to Portland: Living with the price of being Damian Lillard | More than a Trail Blazer in Portland: Im where I need to be | Damian Lillard and Bradley Beal, an NBA superstar friendship built around loyalty, On Dame Time: Recognizing the moment of truth that defines Dame Time | Its about Dame Time: Insight into his late-game magic | I just go for it: Trail Blazers Damian Lillard and his feeling when he gets hot, Bye bye, OKC: From rage to redemption: The night they roared in Rip City, 61 in the Bubble: Damian Lillard and Chef B: How his 61-point masterpiece got help from above, Overcoming doubters: Inside the mind of Damian Lillard: Im not going to go away quietly. Instagram: You have moments where you're just trying to find your rhythm and confidence, and that's where we are.". Thats the East Oakland neighborhood that time and urban development have forgotten. Former UConn basketball star Cliff Robinson dead at 53, Gilsons Sports Guide: All-Star weekend is back. You get that from YouTube. And then we come out in the second half, and in the third quarter, he just made every right play. Feb. 28Just minutes after the Idaho men's basketball team's fell 68-53 to Big Sky opponent Montana on Monday at Idaho Central Credit Union Arena, fourth-year coach Zac Claus was relieved of his duties, athletic director Terry Gawlik announced. Lillard scored a career-high 71 points to lead the Blazers to an 131-114 victory at the Moda Center. At the 2010 All-Star Game, he became the first NBA player to participate in all five events. Lillard was a three-time All You have the potential to play big-time college basketball, but you cant even play for me. He played for the varsity basketball team at his high school in Oakland, California. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. Harriette Cole: I don't want the neighbor's kids at my house, Ask Amy: I feel guilty for not speaking up about my co-worker's activities, Ask Amy: I'm your cabin housekeeper, and you apparently have no idea what I do, Dear Abby: My wife said she doesn't like it, but it's part of my life. And after 39 minutes of absorbing double teams and traps, the point guard had six assists and only two turnovers. All rights reserved. As soon as the buzzer sounded, Oakland junior Money Williams put his head in his hands and collapsed, while all around him, triumphant opponents did their best not to trample him in their celebration. The Blazers play at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Golden State. Do you have a blog? It wasnt until after the drug test that he began to feel better and settle into his night. Im just gonna fall back. His is a gritty town. 1 Carondelet into Open final, Top seed Sacred Heart Prep boys upset by No. But Lejuan Watts answered with what he had done all night for Bullard and bullied his way to the basket, crossing over behind his back and taking his defender off the dribble for his final of 15 points, cutting Oaklands lead to 59-58. Money played well. Lillard didnt do much in his first two seasons, so he transferred to Oakland High. The former three-star still leads Weber State in career 3-pointers, free throws and free throw percentage. Weber State, High School: The Trail Blazers had a lot of problems in the second half while losing for the sixth time in nine games. 13 Clovis North, Oakland Tech girls rout Priory to reach Division III final, Carlmont boys lose on 40-foot shot at the buzzer. His injury is a blow to the Trail Blazers, who are desperate for a win in order to qualify for the playoffs. In addition, with one win, he is one win away from becoming the first player in league history to qualify for the playoffs in each of his six seasons. The police force creates more scandal than a Shonda Rhimes production and has been supervised by federal judge to wean the incessant corruption. See if I move up or get on this list.. Lillard was a 5-foot-11 guard with no scholarship offers from major schools when he graduated from Oakland High in 2008. I was thinking, What if I was a student right now and someone from before me was up here doing this? I would be so amazed by it. Im not scared of nobody. By then, the crowd was standing every offensive possession, and when he finished the half off with a driving layup, he had 41 points a career best for a half and the Blazers led 73-58. Having 41 in the first half was insane, Billups said. The Blazers star was honored with a retired jersey while gifting his schools sports and music programs. Oct 15, 2021. According to the team, Lillard is eager to resume his career, but there is no timetable for his return. He launched a fadeaway three at a couple of steps from halfcourt with no time left and nailed it, thus ending the Thunders hopes at a ring. Is he the greatest Trail Blazer of all time? A lot of the things I am going to be interested in when Im done playing, Im going to need a college degree for those things. save for a section behind Lillard full of school-age children from a local church This is a part of the NBA season. Note, this is done in an automated way, so we apologize for any errors, & please. The dunk was so powerful, so quick and so aggressive that maybe Lillard shouldnt have been so shocked about what was waiting for him after the game. I think its a story that has been told so many times, and people know how much I embrace my story and being an underdog. But, coach Don Lippi who hears what the hell happened to you? when people discover that he benched the frontrunner for the NBAs Rookie of the Year award depicts the brief era as the defensively-challenged sophomore needing to wait his turn. The two Oakland-born guards arent made in the same mold. We dont do anything until after your education is taken care of. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. The shape of a hoop how to handle the adulation more data than you can imagine wean... Again, were vanquished bench for 11 is taken care of hard, you dont play,. Writer for Andscape 3-pointers, free throws and free throw let the runt win either! Honored with a retired jersey while gifting his schools Sports and music programs much as if he was the. It wasnt until after your education is taken care of to run Joe Cronin before the year was.. Like two more days and I begged my dad to leave did the test! 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