“The Top Guy”: NBA Veteran Picks Damian Lillard Above Everyone in the League

He wears jersey #0 but plays in a way that keeps adding zeroes ahead of his spectacular performances and records. Consider this, Damian Lillard has averaged 30.0 points and 8.0 assists in this regular season for the Portland Trail Blazers. Thanks to his high-flying Orlando Bubble performance, he has also won the Bubble MVP Award. 

The Big Dame began his endeavor with the Blazers in the 2012-13 season. Ever since, he has shown just one thing- growth. When he joined the side, he had LaMarcus Aldridge and Nicolas Batum to form a strong trio. Today, he has CJ McCollum and Carmelo Anthony to strengthen the team’s core. 

Portland Trail Blazers teammate is all-praise for Damian Lillard

Lillard has amazing ball-handling skills coupled with a fervor for smooth shooting. We all remember that 61-point game he had against the Dallas Mavericks. He is often double-teamed, but nothing that can contain him from breaking the defense into pieces. 

His teammate and veteran star Carmelo Anthony has praised him to a new high. Melo shared with Yahoo Sports, “I’ve never played with someone who lifted his team on the court with his play and as a leader. He genuinely cares for his teammates. What he’s been able to do is amazing. He’s the top guy I’ve played with.”

Now Carmelo Anthony has played in the NBA over 16 years now. He played with the Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, OKC, and Houston Rockets too. This precisely means he has entered the court alongside the likes of James Harden & Russell Westbrook (for 10 games), Paul George, and Allen Iverson. So with this change in perspective, we now get how huge of a praise he heaped on the 30-YO Lillard.

What is up next for Lillard and the Blazers?

After defeating the Memphis Grizzlies in the first-ever Bubble play-in tournament 126-122, the Blazers have fixed their #8 spot in the conference. Now they have the Los Angeles Lakers on their plate in round 1 of the post-season.

The Blazers have won 7 out of their last 9 games in the Bubble and are on a four-game winning streak. On the other hand, Lakers have put on a largely dismal show in the Bubble ever since they were seeded #1. So maybe on paper, it appears like a #1 vs #8, but in reality, it will be a cut-throat competition where the chances are slim that the outcome will come in just four games. 

It will be super interesting to see how Anthony Davis could protect the rim against a blazing hot Damian Lillard who will look forward to shutting his haters down. The first game between the two play out on August 18 at 9:00 PM ET (TNT).