Damian Lillard facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Damian Lillard

Lillard with the Portland Trail Blazers in 2021
No. 0 – Portland Trail Blazers
Point guard
Personal information
Born	(1990-07-15) July 15, 1990 (age 35) Oakland, California, U.S.
High school	Arroyo (San Lorenzo, California) St. Joseph Notre Dame (Alameda, California) Oakland (Oakland, California)
Listed height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Listed weight	195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
College	Weber State (2008–2012)
NBA Draft	2012 / Round: 1 / Pick: 6th overall
Selected by the Portland Trail Blazers
Pro career	2012–present
League	NBA
Career history
2012–2023	Portland Trail Blazers
2023–2025	Milwaukee Bucks
2025–present	Portland Trail Blazers
Career highlights and awards
9× NBA All-Star (2014, 2015, 2018–2021, 2023–2025) NBA All-Star Game MVP (2024) All-NBA First Team (2018) 4× All-NBA Second Team (2016, 2019–2021) 2× All-NBA Third Team (2014, 2023) NBA Rookie of the Year (2013) NBA All-Rookie First Team (2013) 2× NBA Three-Point Contest champion (2023, 2024) NBA Cup champion (2024) NBA 75th Anniversary Team Third-team All-American – AP, NABC (2012) 2× Big Sky Player of the Year (2010, 2012) 3× First-team All-Big Sky (2009, 2010, 2012) Big Sky Freshman of the Year (2009) No. 1 retired by Weber State Wildcats
Medals Men's basketball Representing the  United States Olympic Games Gold 2020 Tokyo Team

Damian Lamonte Ollie Lillard Sr. (born July 15, 1990) is an American professional basketball player. He plays as a point guard for the Portland Trail Blazers in the National Basketball Association (NBA). People often call him "Dame Time" because he's known for making big shots when the game is on the line.

Before joining the NBA, Lillard played college basketball for the Weber State Wildcats. He was recognized as an All-American in 2012. The Trail Blazers picked him sixth overall in the 2012 NBA draft. He was named the NBA Rookie of the Year for the 2012–13 season.

Damian Lillard has been an NBA All-Star nine times and chosen for the All-NBA Team seven times. He is also the all-time leading scorer for the Trail Blazers. By the end of the 2024–25 season, he was fourth on the NBA's all-time list for three-point shots made.

In 2021, Lillard won a gold medal with the U.S. Olympic team at the 2020 Summer Olympics. That same year, he was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team, which honors the greatest players in NBA history. In 2023, he was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks. While with the Bucks, he won the All-Star Game MVP award and the NBA Cup in 2024. After an injury in the 2025 playoffs, Lillard returned to the Trail Blazers on July 19, 2025.

Outside of basketball, Lillard is also a rapper. He goes by the stage name Dame D.O.L.L.A.

High School Basketball Journey

Damian Lillard started his high school basketball career at Arroyo High School. He was a starter on the varsity team as a freshman. He later transferred to St. Joseph Notre Dame High School for his sophomore year. This school was known for producing another NBA point guard, Jason Kidd.

However, Lillard didn't get much playing time there. So, he transferred again to Oakland High School. At Oakland High, he became a First Team All-League player in his junior and senior years. As a junior, he averaged 19.4 points per game. In his senior year, he averaged 22.4 points and 5.2 assists, helping his team achieve a 23–9 record.

Lillard wasn't a top-ranked recruit coming out of high school. But he accepted a scholarship to play for Weber State in Ogden, Utah. He chose Weber State partly because he wanted to move away from his hometown of Oakland.

College Basketball Career

As a freshman at Weber State, Lillard averaged 11.5 points per game. He was named the Big Sky Conference Freshman of the Year. He also made the first-team All-Big Sky. In his second year, his scoring average jumped to 19.9 points per game. He led the Wildcats to the conference championship. He was named Big Sky Player of the Year.

During the 2010–11 season, Lillard was leading the Big Sky in scoring. But he suffered a foot injury ten games into the season. This injury forced him to miss the rest of the year.

In his junior year, Lillard averaged 24.5 points. He was one of the top scorers in the nation. On December 3, 2011, he scored a college career-high 41 points against San Jose State. He made a game-winning three-point play in double overtime. At the end of the year, he earned his third first-team all-conference selection. He also won his second Big Sky Player of the Year award.

Lillard decided to skip his senior year to enter the 2012 NBA draft. He finished his college career as the second-highest scorer in Weber State history. He also ranked fifth in Big Sky history. He completed his degree in professional sales in May 2015.

Professional Basketball Journey

Portland Trail Blazers (2012–2023)

Becoming Rookie of the Year (2012–13)

Lillard attempts a jump shot over fellow rookie Draymond Green with the Trail Blazers in January 2013.

The Portland Trail Blazers picked Lillard as the sixth overall choice in the 2012 NBA draft. In his first NBA game on October 31, he scored 23 points and had 11 assists. This made him one of only three players in NBA history to achieve at least 20 points and 10 assists in their debut. His 11 assists were also the most by an NBA rookie in their first game since 1994.

Lillard set a Trail Blazers rookie record with seven 3-pointers on January 11, finishing with 37 points. He became the first Trail Blazer to win an event at the NBA All-Star Weekend, by winning the Skills Challenge. He also played in the Rising Stars Challenge. On March 8, he became the first NBA rookie since 1978–79 to have 35 points, nine assists, and zero turnovers in a game.

He earned Western Conference Rookie of the Month honors every month of the season. This made him one of only eight players to sweep the award since it began in 1981–82. Lillard led all rookies in scoring (19.0 points per game) and assists (6.5 assists per game).

Lillard played in all 82 games, starting each one. He won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award unanimously. He joined Oscar Robertson and Allen Iverson as the only rookies in NBA history to score over 1,500 points and have over 500 assists in a season. He also broke the NBA rookie record for 3-pointers in a season with 185.

First All-Star and All-NBA Selection (2013–14)

Lillard started all 82 games for the second year in a row. He averaged 20.7 points, 5.6 assists, and 3.5 rebounds per game. The Trail Blazers finished fifth in the Western Conference. They faced the Houston Rockets in the first round of the 2014 NBA playoffs.

In Game 1, Lillard scored 31 points and grabbed nine rebounds in his first playoff game. In Game 6, Lillard made a buzzer-beating shot to win the series. His 3-pointer as time ran out gave Portland a 99–98 victory. This was the Trail Blazers' first playoff series win since 2000. They then lost to the San Antonio Spurs in the second round. Lillard was named to the All-NBA Third Team at the end of the season.

First Division Title (2014–15)

Lillard started all 82 games for the third season in a row. He achieved career highs in points, rebounds, and steals. On December 19, 2014, he scored a career-high 43 points in a triple-overtime win against the San Antonio Spurs. Four days later, he scored 40 points against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

On February 8, 2015, Lillard was chosen to play in the 2015 NBA All-Star Game. On March 4, he grabbed a career-high 18 rebounds. The Trail Blazers finished fourth in the Western Conference. They lost to the Memphis Grizzlies in five games in the first round of the playoffs.

Becoming a Franchise Player (2015–16)

Lillard being defended by Russell Westbrook with the Trail Blazers in January 2016

On July 9, 2015, Lillard signed a five-year contract extension with the Trail Blazers. On October 28, he made his 600th career three-pointer, becoming the fastest NBA player to reach this mark. He also reached 1,500 career assists, the fastest Trail Blazer to do so since Terry Porter.

On December 21, Lillard missed his first career game due to a foot injury. This ended his streak of 275 consecutive games played. On February 19, he scored a career-high 51 points in a win over the Golden State Warriors. He became the first player in NBA history to have at least 50 points, seven assists, and six steals in a game.

Lillard averaged 25.1 points per game for the season. He and C. J. McCollum became the first backcourt in Blazers' history to each average 20 or more points. The Trail Blazers defeated the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round of the playoffs. They then lost to the Golden State Warriors in five games in the second round.

Winning the Magic Johnson Award (2016–17)

In the season opener on October 25, 2016, Lillard scored 39 points. Four days later, he scored 37 points, including a game-winning shot in overtime. With 27 points on November 2, Lillard became the first NBA player since Kobe Bryant in 2005–06 to score 27 or more points in each of his team's first five games.

He missed five games in December and January due to a sprained left ankle. On January 28, Lillard reached 8,000 career points. He joined Michael Jordan and LeBron James as the only players to reach 8,000 points and 2,000 assists in their first five seasons. On April 8, Lillard scored a franchise-record 59 points. He also tied his career high with nine three-pointers.

After a tough start, Lillard helped the Trail Blazers finish the season strong. They earned the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference. They faced the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the playoffs and lost in a clean sweep. On May 2, 2017, Lillard received the Magic Johnson Award. This award honors players who excel on the court and are cooperative with the media and public.

All-NBA First Team Selection (2017–18)

Lillard in 2018

On October 28, 2017, Lillard reached the 9,000-point milestone. He became the fastest Blazer to score 9,000 points. On November 27, he moved into fourth place on Portland's career assists list. He joined Clyde Drexler and Terry Porter as the only players in franchise history in the top 10 for scoring and top five for assists.

On February 2, Lillard became the fastest player in franchise history to reach 10,000 points. On February 9, he scored a season-high 50 points in just 29 minutes. This was his fourth 50-point game. On February 24, he made a game-winning lay-up with 0.9 seconds left. He finished with 40 points, helping the Trail Blazers come back from a 15-point deficit.

Lillard averaged 31.4 points per game in February, the highest scoring average for any month in Portland history. He was named to the All-NBA First Team for the season. This made him the third player in franchise history to earn this honor. The Trail Blazers earned the third seed in the playoffs. However, they were swept by the New Orleans Pelicans in the first round.

Reaching the Western Conference Finals (2018–19)

Lillard in 2019

In the season opener on October 18, 2018, Lillard scored 28 points. On October 27, he scored 42 points, passing the 11,000-point mark. On November 28, he scored 41 points and set a franchise record with ten 3-pointers. On December 27, he hit a game-winning 3-pointer in overtime against the Golden State Warriors.

On January 14, Lillard scored 35 points. He became the fastest player in Portland history to reach 12,000 career points. He also scored in double figures for his 184th straight game, breaking a franchise record. In April, he became the first Blazer to have 2,000 points and 500 assists in the same season.

On April 23, Lillard hit a 37-foot, game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer. He finished with a playoff career-high 50 points. This helped the Trail Blazers eliminate the Thunder in five games. In Game 1 of the second round, Lillard scored 39 points against the Denver Nuggets. The Trail Blazers advanced to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2000. They lost to the Warriors in a four-game sweep.

After the season, Lillard signed a four-year contract extension.

Career High in Assists (2019–20)

On November 8, 2019, Lillard scored a career-high 60 points. On January 20, 2020, he scored 61 points, along with 10 rebounds and 7 assists. From January 20 to February 1, Lillard averaged 48.8 points per game over six games. He also recorded his first career triple-double on January 29.

Lillard was chosen for his fifth All-Star game but couldn't play due to a groin injury. On June 30, 2020, Lillard was chosen as the cover athlete for NBA 2K21. In the Orlando bubble, Lillard scored 45 points and had 12 assists on August 6. Three days later, he scored 51 points.

On August 11, Lillard scored 61 points again, tying his career high. This was his third 60-point game of the season. He joined Wilt Chamberlain as the only players to have three such games in a single season. Lillard scored an NBA-high 37.6 points and 9.6 assists in the bubble games. He was voted the NBA Player of the Seeding Games.

NBA Teammate of the Year (2020–21)

On January 30, 2021, Lillard scored a season-high 44 points, including a game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer. On February 17, he scored 43 points and tied a career-high with 16 assists. He became one of only 12 players in NBA history to have 40 points and 15 assists in a game.

During Game 5 of the first round of the 2021 playoffs against the Denver Nuggets, Lillard scored a playoff career-high 55 points. He made an NBA playoff record 12 three-pointers and also had 10 assists. Lillard hit game-tying threes at the end of regulation and the first overtime. However, the Nuggets won the game in double overtime. The Blazers lost the series in six games.

Injury and Missing Playoffs (2021–22)

Lillard in 2021

On November 20, 2021, Lillard scored a season-high 39 points. On January 13, 2022, he had surgery for an abdominal injury. He was expected to be out for 6–8 weeks.

On February 10, the Blazers announced that Lillard would likely not play again that season. On March 21, he was officially ruled out for the rest of the season. This was the first time since Lillard's rookie season that Portland missed the playoffs.

After the season, Lillard signed a two-year contract extension.

Comeback and Career High in Scoring (2022–23)

After missing 47 games the previous season, Lillard scored 41 points in Portland's second and third games of the new season. This helped them start with a 3–0 record. Lillard became one of eight players ever to score at least 40 points twice in their team’s first three games.

On December 19, Lillard scored 28 points. He passed Clyde Drexler to become the franchise's all-time leading scorer. On January 12, 2023, Lillard scored a season-high 50 points. This was his 15th career game with 50 or more points.

On January 25, Lillard scored a season-high 60 points, making nine 3-pointers. He became the fifth player in NBA history to score 60 points at least four times in the regular season. On February 2, Lillard recorded his second career triple-double. On February 18, Lillard won the Three-Point Contest. The next day, he made the game-winning 3-pointer in the 2023 All-Star Game.

On February 26, Lillard scored a career-high and Blazers franchise-high 71 points. He also made a career-high and Blazers franchise-high 13 three-pointers. He became the eighth player in NBA history to score 70 or more points in a single game. He was the first player to score more than 70 points in under 40 minutes. On March 6, Lillard recorded his third career triple-double.

Milwaukee Bucks (2023–2025)

On September 27, 2023, Lillard was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in a three-team deal.

Change of Scenery (2023–24)

Lillard played his first game for the Bucks on October 26, 2023. He scored 39 points, a franchise record for a debut. On December 13, he made his 2,451st career three-pointer, passing Kyle Korver for fifth on the NBA's all-time list. On December 19, Lillard scored 40 points and passed 20,000 career points. He became one of only four players to have at least 20,000 points, 5,000 assists, and 2,000 3-pointers.

On January 14, 2024, Lillard scored 29 points, including a game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer. He became the fifth player in NBA history to make at least 2,500 career three-pointers. On January 20, Lillard scored a season-high 45 points. On January 25, Lillard was named an Eastern Conference starter for the 2024 NBA All-Star Game.

During the All-Star Weekend, Lillard won the NBA Three-Point Contest for the second year in a row. He was also named the NBA All-Star Game MVP with 39 points. He was the first player to win both awards in the same weekend. On March 8, Lillard passed Reggie Miller for fourth on the NBA's all-time 3-point list.

In Game 1 of the Bucks' playoff series against the Indiana Pacers, Lillard scored a franchise record 35 points in the first half. Lillard missed games 4 and 5 due to an Achilles injury. Milwaukee lost to Indiana in six games.

Injuries and Return to Portland (2024–25)

On November 2, 2024, Lillard scored 41 points and made 10 three-pointers. On December 17, Lillard and the Bucks won the NBA Cup. Lillard was selected to the All-Tournament team. On January 30, 2025, Lillard was named an All-Star reserve for his ninth selection.

On March 25, Lillard was ruled out indefinitely due to a blood clot in his right calf. On April 17, he was cleared to increase his basketball activity. Five days later, Lillard returned in Game 2 of the playoffs. In Game 4 on April 27, Lillard suffered a torn Achilles tendon in his left calf. This injury ended his season.

On July 6, 2025, the Bucks announced they had waived Lillard.

Return to Portland (2025–present)

On July 19, 2025, the Trail Blazers signed Lillard to a three-year deal. This marked his return to the team where he spent 11 seasons.

Career Statistics

NBA

Regular Season

Playoffs

College

Awards and Honors

NBA

• 9× NBA All-Star (2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025)
• NBA All-Star Game MVP (2024)
• All-NBA First Team (2017)
• 4× All-NBA Second Team (2015, 2018, 2019, 2020)
• 2× All-NBA Third Team (2013, 2022)
• NBA Player of the Seeding Games (2019)
• NBA Rookie of the Year (2012)
• NBA All-Rookie First Team (2012)
• 2× NBA Three-Point Contest champion (2023, 2024)
• J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award (2019)
• NBA Teammate of the Year (2021)
• NBA Rising Star (2012, 2013)
• 2× NBA Skills Challenge champion (2013, 2014)
• First NBA player to participate in 5 events in All-Star Weekend (2014: Rising Stars Challenge, Dunk Contest, 3-point Contest, Skills Challenge winner, All-Star Game)
• NBA 75th Anniversary Team (2021)

College

• AP third-team All-American (2012)
• NABC third-team All-American (2012)
• 2× Big Sky Conference Player of the Year (2010, 2012)
• 3× First-team All-Big Sky (2009, 2010, 2012)
• 2× Big Sky All-Tournament Team (2010, 2012)
• Big Sky Freshman of the Year (2009)
• No. 1 retired by Weber State

Personal Life

Lillard posing with fans in July 2012

Damian Lillard wears jersey number 0. This number represents his journey from Oakland, to Ogden, and then to Oregon. Lillard is a Christian and has a tattoo of Psalms 37:1–3 on his left arm. His brother, Houston, played football and is an Indoor Football League quarterback.

In the 2020–21 season, Lillard played with his cousin, Keljin Blevins.

On March 29, 2018, Lillard's first child, a son named Damian Jr., was born. Lillard started a program called "RESPECT" to help high school students in the Portland area graduate.

Lillard has several sponsorship deals, including with Adidas, Powerade, Spalding, and Foot Locker. In 2014, he signed a large contract with Adidas for his signature shoe line, the "Adidas Dame." In 2019, he also signed a deal with Hulu to promote their live sports streaming.

In 2020, Lillard became a co-owner of a Toyota dealership in McMinnville, Oregon. In January 2021, Lillard and his fiancée, Kay'La Hanson, welcomed twins, a daughter named Kali and a son named Kalii. Lillard married Hanson in September 2021, but they later divorced in 2024.

Music Career

Damian Lillard is also a hip-hop artist and rapper known as Dame D.O.L.L.A. His stage name stands for "Different On Levels the Lord Allows." He started rapping with his cousin Eugene "Baby" Vasquez. Another cousin, Brookfield Duece, also influenced his music.

Lillard created a social media trend called "Four Bar Friday." In this trend, he and others share videos of themselves rapping a short verse on Instagram every Friday. In July 2015, he released his first full song, "Soldier in the Game." On October 21, 2016, Lillard released his first album, The Letter O.

He released his second album, Confirmed, on October 6, 2017. His third album, Big D.O.L.L.A., came out on August 9, 2019. It featured famous artists like Lil Wayne and Jeremih. Lillard now has his own record label, Front Page Music. His song "Kobe," released in September 2020, is part of the NBA 2K21 soundtrack. It is a tribute to the late Kobe Bryant. In April 2024, Lillard was featured in the song "Day 0" by the Hong Kong boy group Mirror.

Discography

Studio Albums

Singles

As Lead Artist

As Featured Artist

Filmography

Images for kids

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  Lillard with the Portland Trail Blazers in 2021

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  Lillard attempts a jump shot over fellow rookie Draymond Green with the Trail Blazers in January 2013.

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  Lillard being defended by Russell Westbrook with the Trail Blazers in January 2016

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  Lillard in 2021

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  Lillard in 2018

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  Lillard in 2019

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  Lillard posing with fans in July 2012

See also

In Spanish: Damian Lillard para niños