Career Timeline of Damian Lillard: Major Achievements and Milestones

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Damian Lillard made an impact.

Damian Lillard, nicknamed "Dame Time," is an American professional basketball player for the Portland Trail Blazers. He also serves as general manager for the Weber State Wildcats men's basketball team. A former Weber State Wildcat himself, where he earned All-American honors, Lillard was drafted sixth overall by Portland in 2012, becoming NBA Rookie of the Year (2012-13). He is a nine-time NBA All-Star, a seven-time All-NBA Team selection, and the Trail Blazers’ all-time leading scorer. He also ranks fourth in NBA history in three-point field goals made, totaling 2,804 by the end of the 2024-2025 season.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1968: Rookie Leader in Minutes Played

Damian Lillard became the first rookie to lead the NBA in total minutes played (3,167) since Elvin Hayes in 1968-69.

1973: Career-High 51 Points Against Warriors

On February 19, Damian Lillard scored a career-high 51 points in a 137–105 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 since the steal became an official statistic in 1973-74.

1981: Western Conference Rookie of the Month Honors

In 2012, Damian Lillard earned Western Conference Rookie of the Month honors for every month, becoming one of just eight players to sweep NBA Rookie of the Month honors since the award's inception in 1981-82.

1984: Rookie of the Year Award

Damian Lillard claimed the NBA Rookie of the Year Award for the 2012-13 season. This achievement put Lillard in company with other unanimous winners like Blake Griffin (2011), David Robinson (1990), and Ralph Sampson who won it in 1984.

1986: 1,500 Points and 500 Assists

Damian Lillard joined Oscar Robertson and Allen Iverson as the only rookies in NBA history to tally in excess of 1,500 points and 500 assists for a season. Lillard became the fourth Trail Blazer in franchise history to win NBA Rookie of the Year honors and one of two to ever finish a season with at least 1,500 points and 500 assists (the other being Clyde Drexler in 1986-87 and 1991-92).

1987: 1,500 Career Assists

On October 28, 2015, Lillard's 11 assists gave him 1,500 for his career, making him the fastest Trail Blazer to reach the milestone since Terry Porter (1987–88 season, 215 games).

1990: Rookie of the Year Award

1991: 1,500 Points and 500 Assists

1991: First Blazer Since Clyde Drexler with 600 Points and 150 Assists

On December 12, in a loss to the New York Knicks, Lillard became the first Blazer since Clyde Drexler in 1991-92 to record 600 points and 150 assists during the team's first 25 games.

1991: 30 Points in Four Consecutive Games

On February 21, Damian Lillard scored 30 points against the Utah Jazz, becoming the first Blazer to score at least 30 points in four consecutive games since Drexler accomplished the feat in 1991.

1997: Buzzer-Beating Shot to Win Playoff Series

In Game 6 of the 2014 series, Lillard became the first player to make a buzzer-beating shot to win a playoff series since Utah's John Stockton against Houston in 1997.

2000: Playoff Series Win

In Game 6 of the 2014 series, Lillard's 3-pointer as time expired gave Portland a 99–98 victory over Houston, lifting the Trail Blazers to their first playoff series win since 2000.

2004: Franchise Leader for 3-Point Field Goals

Damian Lillard became the Portland franchise leader for most 3-point field goals in a season, breaking Damon Stoudamire's record of 181 in 2004-05.

2009: Rookie Record for 3-Pointers

Damian Lillard broke the all-time NBA rookie record for 3-pointers in a season (185), surpassing Stephen Curry's 166 three-pointers in 2009-10.

2010: Big Sky Leading Scorer and Foot Injury

In the 2010-11 season, Damian Lillard led the Big Sky in scoring, averaging 19.7 points per game. However, ten games into the season, he suffered a foot injury that sidelined him for the remainder of the year.

December 3, 2011: Career-High 41 Points Against San Jose State

On December 3, 2011, Damian Lillard scored a college career-high 41 points against San Jose State, including a game-clinching three-point play, leading Weber State to a 91–89 double-overtime win.

2011: Rookie of the Year Award

Damian Lillard claimed the NBA Rookie of the Year Award for the 2012-13 season. This achievement put Lillard in company with other unanimous winners like Blake Griffin who won it in 2011, David Robinson (1990), and Ralph Sampson (1984).

2012: All-American Honors and NBA Draft

In 2012, Damian Lillard earned third-team All-American honors for his performance in college basketball with Weber State. He was later selected by the Portland Trail Blazers with the sixth overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft.

2012: Signed Sponsorship Deal with Adidas

In 2012, Damian Lillard signed a multi-year sponsorship deal with Adidas.

2012: Drafted by Portland Trail Blazers

In 2012, Damian Lillard was selected as the sixth overall pick in the NBA draft by the Portland Trail Blazers.

2012: NBA Draft Entry

In 2012, Damian Lillard, widely regarded as a top point guard prospect, decided to forgo his senior season and enter the NBA draft, finishing his college career as the No. 2 scorer in Weber State history and the No. 5 scorer in Big Sky history.

2012: 2,000th NBA Field Goal

On January 18, 2016, in a win over the Washington Wizards, Damian Lillard hit his 2,000th NBA field goal, one of only eight players to reach that mark since he entered the league in 2012-13.

2013: Revival of Never Worry Picnic

In 2013, Damian Lillard revived the Never Worry Picnic in Brookfield Park after his standout rookie season. The East Oakland event was discontinued when he was at age 12.

December 19, 2014: Career-High 43 Points

On December 19, 2014, Damian Lillard scored a career-high 43 points in a 129–119 triple-overtime win over the defending champion San Antonio Spurs.

2014: NBA Playoffs and All-NBA Third Team Selection

In 2014, Damian Lillard led the Trail Blazers to the playoffs, recording 31 points in his playoff debut. He also made a buzzer-beating shot to win a playoff series, the first since 1997. Lillard was named to the All-NBA Third Team at the season's end.

2014: New Contract with Adidas

In 2014, Damian Lillard negotiated a new contract with Adidas potentially worth $100 million over 10 years.

January 5, 2015: 39-Point Effort Against the Lakers

On January 5, 2015, Damian Lillard scored 39 points against the Los Angeles Lakers.

February 8, 2015: All-Star Game Selection

On February 8, 2015, Damian Lillard was selected as a replacement for the injured Blake Griffin in the 2015 NBA All-Star Game.

March 4, 2015: Career-High 18 Rebounds

On March 4, 2015, Damian Lillard recorded a career-high 18 rebounds in a 98–93 win over the Los Angeles Clippers.

July 9, 2015: Contract Extension with Trail Blazers

On July 9, 2015, Damian Lillard signed a five-year, $120 million contract extension with the Trail Blazers.

July 2015: First Single Release

In July 2015, Damian Lillard released his first full length single, "Soldier in the Game", via SoundCloud.

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October 28, 2015: 600th Career Three-Pointer

On October 28, 2015, Damian Lillard recorded 21 points and 11 assists in a season-opening win over the New Orleans Pelicans, achieving his 600th career three-point field goal, making him the fastest NBA player in history to reach the mark at 247 games.

October 21, 2016: Debut Album Release

On October 21, 2016, Damian Lillard released his debut album, "The Letter O".

October 25, 2016: 39 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists in win over Utah Jazz

On October 25, 2016, Damian Lillard scored 39 points with 9 rebounds and 6 assists in a 113-104 win against the Utah Jazz. During this game, he passed Jim Paxson for sixth on the franchise career list with his first assist.

2016: MVP Race and Playoff Performance

In the 2016 NBA MVP Race, Damian Lillard finished 8th in total points received. He also recorded 40 points and 10 assists in Game 3 of the second round of the playoffs against the Golden State Warriors, helping the Trail Blazers win 120–108.

October 6, 2017: Second Album Release

On October 6, 2017, Damian Lillard released his second album, "Confirmed".

October 28, 2017: Reached 9,000-point milestone

On October 28, 2017, Damian Lillard reached the 9,000-point milestone during a game against the Phoenix Suns. With 402 career games, Lillard became the fastest Blazer to score 9,000 points.

2017: Sponsorship Deal with Powerade

In 2017, Damian Lillard signed a sponsorship deal with Powerade.

March 29, 2018: Birth of First Child

On March 29, 2018, Damian Lillard had his first child, a son named Damian Jr. They live in West Linn. Lillard established a RESPECT Program to help high school kids in the Portland metro area graduate.

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October 18, 2018: Scored 28 points in win over Los Angeles Lakers

On October 18, 2018, Damian Lillard scored a game-high 28 points in a 128–119 win over the Los Angeles Lakers.

August 9, 2019: Third Album Release

On August 9, 2019, Damian Lillard released his third album, "Big D.O.L.L.A.", which featured Lil Wayne, Mozzy, and Jeremih.

November 8, 2019: Recorded career-high 60 points

On November 8, 2019, Damian Lillard scored a then career-high 60 points in a loss to the Brooklyn Nets.

2019: Endorsement Deal with Hulu

In 2019, Damian Lillard became one of a number of NBA players to sign a contract with Hulu to promote the streaming service's new campaign of adding live sports to their repertoire.

January 20, 2020: Scored career-high 61 points

On January 20, 2020, Damian Lillard surpassed his previous career high by scoring 61 points in a 129-124 win against the Golden State Warriors. He also had 10 rebounds and 7 assists.

June 30, 2020: Selected as NBA 2K21 Cover Athlete

On June 30, 2020, Damian Lillard was selected to be the cover athlete for NBA 2K21.

September 2020: Single Included in NBA 2K21 Soundtrack

In September 2020, Lillard's single "Kobe", featuring Snoop Dogg and Derrick Milano, was included in the soundtrack for NBA 2K21 as a tribute to Kobe Bryant.

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2020: Olympic Gold Medal

In 2020, Damian Lillard won a gold medal playing for the U.S. Olympic team in the Summer Olympics, which took place in 2021.

2020: Co-Ownership of Toyota Dealership

In 2020, Damian Lillard, along with Brian Sanders, became co-owner of a Toyota dealership, now known as Damian Lillard Toyota, in McMinnville, Oregon.

January 30, 2021: Season-High 44 Points and Game-Winning Shot

On January 30, 2021, Damian Lillard scored a season-high 44 points, including a game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer, in a 123–122 victory over the Chicago Bulls.

February 17, 2021: 43 Points and Career-High 16 Assists

On February 17, 2021, Damian Lillard scored 43 points and tied a career-high with 16 assists in a win against the New Orleans Pelicans, becoming one of only 12 players in NBA history to have 40 points and 15 assists in a single game.

November 20, 2021: Season-High 39 Points Against 76ers

On November 20, 2021, Damian Lillard scored a season-high 39 points, along with 7 assists and 3 blocks, in a 118–111 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.

2021: Olympic Gold Medal and NBA 75th Anniversary Team Selection

In 2021, Damian Lillard won a gold medal playing for the U.S. Olympic team in the 2020 Summer Olympics. Also in 2021, he was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.

2021: Playoff Career-High 55 Points in Game 5

In 2021, during Game 5 of the first round of the playoffs against the Denver Nuggets, Damian Lillard scored a playoff career-high 55 points and made an NBA playoff record 12 three-pointers, along with 10 assists; however, the Nuggets ultimately won in double overtime.

2021: Ruled out for the remainder of the season

In 2021, it was announced that Lillard would "most likely" not play again during the 2021–22 season due to injury. This marked the first time since Lillard's rookie season that Portland missed the playoffs.

January 12, 2023: Season-High 50 Points Against Cavaliers

On January 12, 2023, Damian Lillard scored a then season-high 50 points in a 119–113 loss against the Cleveland Cavaliers, marking his 15th career game with 50 or more points.

September 27, 2023: Traded to the Milwaukee Bucks

On September 27, 2023, Damian Lillard was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks as part of a three-team trade.

October 26, 2023: Bucks Debut with Franchise Record

On October 26, 2023, Damian Lillard made his debut with the Milwaukee Bucks against the Philadelphia 76ers, scoring 39 points, which set a franchise record for a debut, and had eight rebounds in a 118–117 victory.

2023: Trade to Milwaukee Bucks

In 2023, Damian Lillard was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks after requesting a trade.

January 14, 2024: Game-Winning Shot and Milestone

On January 14, 2024, Damian Lillard scored 29 points, including a buzzer-beating, game-winning three-pointer and added eight assists in a 143–142 overtime win over the Sacramento Kings. He also became just the fifth player in NBA history to make at least 2,500 career three-pointers.

April 10, 2024: Featured in Mirror's Single

On April 10, 2024, Damian Lillard was featured in Hong Kong boy group Mirror's single "Day 0".

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November 2, 2024: 41 Points Against Cavaliers

On November 2, 2024, Damian Lillard had 41 points with nine assists and shot 10 of 15 from 3-point range in a 114–113 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

2024: All-Star Game MVP and NBA Cup Win

In 2024, during his first season with the Milwaukee Bucks, Damian Lillard was named the All-Star Game MVP and won the NBA Cup.

January 30, 2025: Named All-Star Reserve

On January 30, 2025, Damian Lillard was named as a reserve for the 2025 NBA All-Star Game, marking his ninth selection.

July 6, 2025: Waived by Bucks

On July 6, 2025, the Bucks announced they had waived Damian Lillard, stretching the remaining $103 million left on his deal.

July 19, 2025: Signed by Trail Blazers

On July 19, 2025, Damian Lillard signed a three-year, $42 million deal with the Trail Blazers, marking his return to the franchise after previously spending 11 seasons with the team.

August 2, 2025: Named General Manager of Weber State

On August 2, 2025, with Lillard unlikely to play during the 2025–26 NBA season due to recovery from his torn Achilles, he returned to his alma mater of Weber State, being introduced as the new general manager of the men's basketball program.

2025: Achilles Injury and Return to Trail Blazers

In 2025, Damian Lillard suffered an Achilles injury during the playoffs and was subsequently released by the Milwaukee Bucks after two seasons. Following his release, Lillard rejoined the Trail Blazers on a three-year deal.