It really, really was a masterful performance, Billups said. Lillard thrived at Weber under coach Randy Rahe. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. According to the team, Lillard is eager to resume his career, but there is no timetable for his return. As Lillard and Cronin waited on the sideline near the scorers table for their cue to walk to center court for a trophy presentation, they talked. The core of this team will remain intact: Five of the Wildcats top six scorers, including Williams 19.8 per game, were underclassmen. His second shot didnt come until 7:22. That takes some incredible discipline, Billups said. Damian Lillard was largely overlooked as a high schooler. For me, its the beauty in it for where we are as a team, for one, Lillard said. Coming out of high school, however, he was only a 3-star recruit. Theres also a stage that can host school Christmas pageants. Even as a little kid.. High School: Oakland High School [Oakland, California] I aint a punk, Lillard responds without missing a beat when asked how his hometown defines him. I mean, that boy is fearless. We are going to be in some dogfights, we are going to be in some tough games. He played college basketball for the Weber State Wildcats and earned third-team All-American honors in 2012. You have moments where you're just trying to find your rhythm and confidence, and that's where we are.". YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. In a performance that coach Chauncey Billups called a piece of art, Lillard scored a franchise-record 71 points, which included a Blazers-record 13 3-pointers, to help Portland beat Houston 131-114. We dont get the chance to experience things like this a lot, said Billups, who had a storied 17-year NBA career. But today in East Oakland, theyll tell the stories. Williams, who had only played AAU before this season, said I always knew I had the talent, but that playing at the varsity high school level required a new level of discipline. Jason Quick is a senior writer for The Athletic covering the Portland Trail Blazers. Were a young team, so next year were going to have the chemistry, and were gonna be good.. Oklahoma City (28-32) lost 124-115 at Sacramento (35-25). When the Blazers team bus pulls into Oracle this afternoon, Lillard will have already repeated countless times that its no big deal. home/away, monthly, etc More Damian Lillard Basketball Reference pages, 2022-23 Trail Blazers Everyone knew he was taking the shot at that point, but it didnt matter Lillard was too quick. I wasnt like, Im gonna get 70 tonight, Lillard said. They know Im scared of needles I know I have a lot of tattoos, but when you are doing a blood draw its different than tattoos, Lillard said. Truth be told, Lillard is uncomfortable with more than just needles. TaKwain is a pleasure to have in class and a leader in the school community. Its inspiring. Lillard passed to Matisse Thybulle for a dunk. 6 overall. One of the reasons he left here, he wasnt playing that much, but that made him want to get in the gym and get better.. New Orleans is playing the sixth contest of a stretch in which seven of eight are on the road. Damian Lillard, the son of Gina and Houston Lillard, was born on July 15, 1990, in Oakland, California. About the teenager who worked out Friday evenings instead of partying. But as 11th-seeded Bullard, which traveled three hours from Fresno for this game, advances to the NorCal final while No. He is expected to lead a new team with Anfernee Simons, Jerami Grant, and Jusuf Nurkic. And Lillard sat out when Portland won this season's first meeting, 106-95 on Nov. 10 in New Orleans. All rights reserved. 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. There, he got more playing time and, in turn, averaged 20 points per game his junior year and 28 his senior year. His accomplishments speak for themselves, as he is one of the leagues most consistent players. As a junior at Oakland, he averaged 19.4 points per game. You couldnt leave the locker room with your gym bag until you were leaving the school. If a single arm bent, then everyone had to run. The game began with the Blazers in a tie for 11th place after the Los Angeles Lakers (29-32) won 111-108 at Dallas (32-30). Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot concedes defeat, Southern California home sales fall to all-time low, Denver just got a direct flight to this Caribbean island known for music history and vegetarian cooking, NYC Mayor Adams dismisses need to separate church and state, declares himself a servant of God, Zero-calorie sweetener linked to heart attack and stroke, study finds, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Through the 1990s, Gamble worked at the Ira Jinkins Recreation Center commonly referred to by the name of its neighborhood. Money yes, thats his given name, and yes, theres a story may be the best player to pass through Oakland High since Damian Lillard. Were playing McClymonds and we went on to go undefeated that year and win state, and Dame pulled up from right inside half court to tie the game and he had missed that same shot about a minute sooner. 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. He thought he had finally made it but his longtime Oakland Rebels AAU coach Raymond Young didnt share the same sense of satisfaction. We dont do anything until after your education is taken care of. And just around the corner was the gym. The Brookfield Rec offers two meeting rooms large enough for quinceaeras. On Saturday afternoon, following practice and after he had planted the seed of urgency into his teammates, Lillard spoke to the media while drinking a bottle of water. For his sophomore year, Lillard transferred to St. Joseph Notre Dame High School in Alameda, California, the same private school that had produced former NBA point guard Jason Kidd; but by years end, a lack of playing time prompted Lillard to transfer schools yet again. Point Guard About the leader who spent the final moments of his high school career near the bench, but instead of sulking about fouling out, he stood and applauded his OHS teammates. Would dismantling Interstate 980 repair damage to Black neighborhoods? What High School Did Damien Williams Go To, What Classes Should I Take In High School For Aviation, Navigating The Risks Of Adolescence: Exploring The California State University Extended Risk And Wellness Course, Take Your Education To The Next Level: Exploring High School PG Classes, Promoting The Benefits Of High School Business Classes For Student Success, When Is The Best Time To Choose High School Classes? While few schools showed Lillard interest, the right one came calling. Thats what he carries from Oakland in his game to the NBA now.. section: | slug: damian-lillard-looks-to-lead-trail-blazers-past-pelicans | sport: basketball | route: article_single.us | In fact, according to the Portland Trail Blazers, Lillard has a career shooting percentage of 29.1% on three-point shots. Lillard scored a career-high 71 points to lead the Blazers to an 131-114 victory at the Moda Center. The Houston Rockets certainly fit that category and Damian Lillard did all that he could to make sure an upset loss didnt become a possibility. A swath of land carved in the shadows of Oracle Arena where more liquor stores line the trash-strewn streets than schools. Lillard played college basketball for the Weber State Wildcats, where he was named the 2012 Big Sky Conference Mens Basketball Player of the Year and earned third-team All-American honors. Lillards 3, his 11th of the night to tie his career high, made it 113-103 with 6:43 left. Damian Lillard was born in Oakland, California. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: nba | pageType: stories | Funnily enough, the California native broke his franchises record of 61 points, which he has done on two other occasions. As a junior, he finished second in the country in points per game. The slashing 6-3 guards breakout junior season helped the Wildcats reach new heights not even achieved with Lillard 27 wins, their most in 17 seasons under Watkins but wasnt quite enough to vanquish the programs long-lasting demon: the NorCal regional semis. New Orleans star Brandon Ingram scored 25 points against Orlando for his eighth outing of at least 25 in his past nine appearances. Follow Jason on Twitter @jwquick, Lillard planted seeds throughout the team that its urgency needed to rise, he learned to shoot in his grandmothers yard, Damian Lillard went from milk-crate hoops to Dame Time: Im just a believer, Ive always said I wanted to be the best. I was like, are you serious? Lillard said. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited. He was funny, friendly and full of life, Oakland High assistant principal Shoshanna Towers told Patch.com. It was good for all the students to see how important that part is. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. But the bunches of points came, with the most emphatic coming near the end, when his driving dunk while being fouled by Jabari Smith Jr., gave him 58 points, and the ensuing free throw 59 points. Williams started to generate buzz after he scored 35 against Oakland Tech last month, his highest of four 30-plus point performances, the latest coming in the Oakland Athletic League semifinals with 33 in a win over AIMS College Prep. There were students with weapons at the football game, too.. I remembered after [that shooting] happened they had metal detectors at games and your mom couldnt bring her purse in. New Orleans is just 7-18 during his absence. I grew up in East Oakland, it was tough there, Lillard says. Instagram: "It's just a tough loss on our home floor. 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. Wilt Chamberlain set the NBA record with 100 points. 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. Center Jonas Valanciunas (calf) and guard Josh Richardson (quadriceps) are listed as questionable. So I was like, Man, this is going to be crazy tonight.. Lillard, a long-range sharpshooter in the mold of Steph Curry, was already shooting at a high clip from beyond the arc in high school. Really? Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? You have the potential to play big-time college basketball, but you cant even play for me. Anthony Davis, who had missed the previous two games due to injury, scored 28 points in his return to the lineup for the Lakers. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. I think that Dame played for an AAU with a bunch of other guards, and he was their main scorer. The High School Slight That Drives Damian Lillard To This Day Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). Bolted doors and insults are nothing to a boy from Brookfield Village. News never stops. ', "You mean to tell me he was Logo Lillard back in high school too? The Trail Blazers rookie received unanimous rookie of the year honors as a result of his landslide victory in the 2012 season. Williams went off for 12 points in the first half on Saturday. And simply put, when its Lillard Time, theres no need to check your watch. The All-Star guard signed a $120 million extension with the Mavericks in the off-season. Education is the key to getting where a lot of them need to get to. So, Lillard backed off from scoring. He is shooting 45% from the field and 38% from three-point range for a 27.5% scoring average. He has it: Behind brilliance of Damian Lillard, Trail Blazers still alive, They know what I do: Damian Lillard wont be deterred by failure or detractors. From then on, I was like, What do I need to do? . And Lillard threw a long lob pass to Shaedon Sharpe for a dunk. As Money Jr. tells it, his grandmothers brother struck it rich, and she went on to bequeath one of her children with the name. We got out of school at 3:15 p.m. and the games were at 3:45, Lillard, 26, said. Thats the East Oakland neighborhood that time and urban development have forgotten. It was July 15, 2011Lillards 21st birthdayand rather than going out and celebrating, Lillard was working out at the high school gym. TaKwain has earned a 3.95 GPA while playing point guard on McDaniels hoops team. It wasnt until after the drug test that he began to feel better and settle into his night. Evan Webeck is the San Francisco Giants beat writer for the Bay Area News Group. This is a part of the NBA season. The Blazers shot 54.5% from the field while hitting on 20 of 39 threes (51.3%). are nicknames for Damian Lillard. And if the Oakland High students need even more motivation, all they have to do is learn Lillards bootstraps road to the NBA. We gotta go out there and back against the wall every night.. The force of his fourth-quarter dunk. "I want to (thank) coach Claus for his eight years on the Idaho basketball staff and I wish him luck He is a scoring machine who always helps his team win. Moneys one of the good ones, Watkins said. He loves Oakland. 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. After being selected by Portland with the sixth overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft, Lillard was unanim The Daily Campus is UConn's independent, student-run newspaper. And then, aside from that, they know that Im scared of needles.. This past year, he received the Magic Johnson Award for demonstrating excellence on and off the court while also demonstrating respect for the media and the general public. McDaniel Highs TaKwain Montgomery is the epitome of Show Up, Work Hard and Be Kind. Join our linker program. us, College: Damian Lillard averages 32.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 7.2 assists per game. The best thing about Stephen Currys net worth is that it is largely due to his success as a professional basketball player. M. The most unheralded of backstories turned into the most celebrated player in Blazers history. Despite playing for a relatively unknown high school, Lillard was a very good player and was recruited by several colleges. And then we come out in the second half, and in the third quarter, he just made every right play. Youre not going to find Youngs tactics in a guide on how to coach youth basketball. The students received admittance for good behavior and class attendance. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. After his solid junior year, Lilllard would declare for the NBA Draft, and the Portland Trail Blazers would take him No. "@Dennis3DScott sat down with Dame's high school coach to discuss his rise to the top. Lillard finished his collegiate career ranked second in school history with 1,934 career points, fifth in Big Sky Conference history. Lillard finished his collegiate career ranked second in school history with 1,934 career points, fifth in Big Sky Conference history. He played for the varsity basketball team at his high school in Oakland, California. Trust me, if the ball was in Dames hands then everybody knew. But he became eligible after he earned a professional sales degree from the College of Applied Science and Technology in May 2015. That was a thing that was important to the basketball program here, Lillard said. Before he could celebrate, before he could shower, the NBA presented him with paperwork: He was being drug tested. To the more than 19,000 in attendance, it was so moving and so unmistakable that something special was happening that a palpable tension started building in the first quarter. Getty Images. Lillard All Williams could do was fall to the floor. Lillard scored a career-high 71 points to lead the Blazers to an 131-114 victory at the Moda Center. He could score the ball but he would not play a lick of defense.. It was part of the artistry that Billups was referring to. Many, like Billups, can look at Sundays performance and identify the artistry. He wasnt forcing at all.. The Pelicans didn't take advantage of the one home game, as they lost 101-93 to the Orlando Magic on Monday night. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Wednesday, March 1, 9:33AM. 2 teams dropped out, looking to replace those 2 teams in the Damian Lillard Classic tournament silver division. Im not scared of nobody. WebDamian Lillard spent his sophomore year of high school at St Joseph Notre Dame High School, a private school in Alameda, California. It was crazy because it took me back, Lillard told The Undefeated after the event Friday. He gives other kids motivation.. And I wanted to be respected beyond the fact that I am Damian Lillard. Ive seen pieces of art, Lillard said. Damian Lillard has taken the NBA by storm as one of the biggest deep threats the league has ever seen. "We had a great start, a great first half. The central air didnt work; sometimes neither did the lights. 6 overall by the Trail Blazers in the 2012 NBA Draft, and the rest they say is history. WebDamian Lillard Position: Guard 6-2 , 185lb (188cm, 83kg) Hometown: Oakland, CA School: Weber State (Men) Draft: Portland Trail Blazers, 1st round (6th pick, 6th overall), 2012 He acted as a decoy on Bullards final possession, allowing Herod to drop free in the paint and score the game-winning bucket with about 7 seconds left. That motivated me a lot I really believed I was going to make it to the NBA. We present them here for purely educational purposes. It was crazy that we didnt think he was crazy.. If you adjust for inflation, it is the lowest average in any player who has ever won a scoring title. The Portland Trail Blazers postseason hopes can no longer afford very many losses to clearly inferior teams. Javascript is required for the selection of a player. Miss Manners: I shouldn't call because the phone scares people? It brought me down from up here (places hand as far as he could reach above his head) to the floor.. Like, when I walked off the court, I was like, am I supposed to be overly excited or what? Damian Lillard chose Weber State long before Weber State chose him. He never gave up on what appeared to be lofty NBA dreams despite being told at the second of the three high schools he attended that he should pursue something else. Lillard has hit that mark twice and bested it once. He still has some things to learn and work on but hes a kid that steps up to the challenge. The absence of Damian Lillard, one of the most dynamic and explosive players in the league, will have a significant impact on the team. He played in 103 games, starting 98 of them. The 2013 NBA Rookie of the Year has blossomed into the face of the Portlands franchise and an NBA star. In his sweatsuit pocket was another bottle of water, unopened. In San Francisco, Lillard had 19 points in the first half when Portland led by as many as 23 before taking a 65-48 halftime lead. We used to have to play right after school. Damian Lillard gives back to his Oakland, California, high school in a really big way. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. Join us for a March Madness Webinar on Tuesday, March 7 at 8pm ET. Do you have a blog? In the 2014-15 season, Damian Lillard was named the NBAs NBA rookie of the year. In 2015, he signed a five-year contract with the Trail Blazers worth a total of US$ 120 million. Marc J. Spears is the senior NBA writer for Andscape. Try a week on us. You get that from YouTube. Portland's Damian Lillard commands the court as the Trail Blazers take on the Heat in the first half at the Rose Garden. Williams, already taller than Lillard, is adept at slashing through traffic and getting to the rim, often drawing contact in the process. He played for the varsity basketball team at his high school in Oakland, California. When we needed a basket, hey Dame, lets go to work. But I think bigger colleges were looking at him like hes too small, and hes not a facilitator. The Portland star will look to resume his scoring prowess when the Trail Blazers host the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night. And for what I represent, what I put into the game, how I handle myself, how I handle success. But on Sunday, he allowed himself to continue what had become a celebratory tradition when he set a scoring mark taking a picture holding the boxscore of his scoring achievement, with the number of the record in bold, black ink, a nod to Wilt Chamberlains famous photo when he scored 100 points in 1962. Damian Lamonte Ollie Lillard Sr. (born July 15, 1990 ) is an American professional basketball player for the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. I looked at him like this game is tight; we cant be doing that. Lillard wears a tattoo of a psalms scripture on his left arm in honor of his Christian faith. He ultimately decided to attend Weber State, a small school in Utah. The police force creates more scandal than a Shonda Rhimes production and has been supervised by federal judge to wean the incessant corruption. While at Weber State, Lillard proved that he was one of the best players in the country. Young invited the entire team into his Doubletree hotel room for a final meeting. You couldnt tell me it wasnt going to happen.. For the Wildcats, Lillard averaged 22.4 points per game, 5.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists during his senior season. Dear Abby: Why do they imply my husband is a freak? He was a two-star recruit with few options, and packed his bags for Ogden, Utah to attend Weber State, where he missed a season with a broken foot. WebHigh School Sports - Schedules, Scores, Rankings - MaxPreps 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. Lillard was a three-time All-Star and was named the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2013. Damian Lillard Weber State certainly was fortunate Lillard signed before averaging 28 points as a senior at Oakland High. Lillard searched for games, and when grown men took over the main court an invitation for most of the smaller kids to retreat to the back room for PlayStation II he stayed and watched. Damian Lillards high school has another star,, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Chart: Bay Area rainfall totals for this week, Damian Lillards high school has another star, but it still cant get over the hump, CIF NorCal basketball regionals 2023: Quarterfinal schedules, No. About the undersized point guard, overlooked by Bay Area schools, who went to Weber State with a chip the weight of one of those old dirty bricks on his shoulder and developed into the future of a franchise. Lillard and Adidas donated money to help refurbish Oakland Highs gym, add a new scoreboard and build a desperately needed weight room that led to the disposal of aged steel weights. It was just like it was normal. He worked into the Arroyo High varsity starting lineup as a 5-foot-5 freshman, but once it became clear his coach would not return, Lillard searched for a new school. Howard Gamble swears that Lillard kid still owes him a Spalding. And to his teammates, it was the almost effortless manner in which he tied the NBAs highest-scoring performance this season. This season, he is averaging 21.1 points, 5.1 assists, 5.1 steals, and 5.1 boards per game. He helped lead the school to a 21-10 record, 15-1 in the Big Sky Conference during the 2007-08 season. Cam Reddish, who played in his fourth game with Lillard since being traded from New York, couldnt help being awe-struck. I think thats why I was able to branch off and do my own thing.. 18. Following a freshman season in which he led the conference in scoring, he was named Big Sky Freshman of the Year and first-team All-Big Sky. Now that the NBA All-Star Game has passed, we look forward to an exciting second half of NBA action to decide which teams will make a playoff appearance. (Lillards) got so much dog in him and thats what I love about him. Sunday was the Blazers first home game since the All-Star break, so the team planned to honor Lillard before the national anthem for winning the 3-point shooting contest at All-Star weekend in Salt Lake City. He even staged his own rap performance for the high schoolers there, as he makes rap music under the alias Dame D.O.L.L.A. As a senior, he averaged 22.4 points and 5.2 assists per game, as well as leading Oakland to a 23-9 record. However, the 19,215 fans that attended the game were in for a treat, as generational talent Lillard had himself a career game. There was a shooting at a game when I was in high school when we played at McAteer, he said. The Pelicans have lost four straight games and stand a half-game ahead of Portland for the final Western Conference play-in berth. 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. THE DAILY CAMPUS1266 STORRS ROADSTORRS, CT 06269, USA860-486-3407. Having 41 at the half was insane, Billups told reporters. Fearless, and competitive. Little did Billups realize, he would be even more impressed in the opening minutes of the second half. July 15, With 15 points and 13 rebounds, Watts secured his second straight double-double, after collecting 18 and 12 in a quarterfinal win.

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