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 a prominent American professional basketball player for the Portland Trail Blazers and the general manager of the Weber State Wildcats men's basketball program. He played college basketball for Weber State, earning All-American honors. Drafted sixth overall by the Trail Blazers in 2012, he was named NBA Rookie of the Year in 2013. A nine-time NBA All-Star and seven-time All-NBA Team selection, Lillard is the Trail Blazers' all-time leading scorer. By the end of the 2024-25 season, he ranked fourth in NBA history for three-point field goals made, solidifying his status as one of the league's premier players.
1968: Rookie Leading in Total Minutes Played
In 2012, Damian Lillard became the first rookie to lead the NBA in total minutes played (3,167) since Elvin Hayes in 1968–69.
1973: 51 Points and 7 Assists
On February 19, 2016, 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.
1978: NBA Rookie with 35 Points
Damian Lillard became the first NBA rookie to record 35 points, nine assists and zero turnovers in a game since turnovers became a stat in 1978–79 against the San Antonio Spurs on March 8.
1981: Earning Rookie of the Month Honors
Damian Lillard earned Western Conference Rookie of the Month honors for every month in 2012, becoming one of just eight players to sweep NBA Rookie of the Month honors since the inaugural award in 1981–82.
1984: Unanimous Rookie of the Year Award
With averages of 19.0 points, 3.1 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 0.90 steals, and 38.6 minutes in 82 games (all starting), Damian Lillard claimed the NBA Rookie of the Year Award in 2012, joining Blake Griffin (2011), David Robinson (1990), and Ralph Sampson (1984) as the only unanimous winners.
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 in 2012. 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: Unanimous Rookie of the Year Award
With averages of 19.0 points, 3.1 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 0.90 steals, and 38.6 minutes in 82 games (all starting), Damian Lillard claimed the NBA Rookie of the Year Award in 2012, joining Blake Griffin (2011), David Robinson (1990), and Ralph Sampson (1984) as the only unanimous winners.
1991: 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 in 2012. 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).
1991: Scoring Streak
Two days later, in 2016, 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.
1994: NBA Rookie with Most Assists
In the season opener against the Los Angeles Lakers, Damian Lillard recorded 23 points and 11 assists to join Oscar Robertson and Allen Iverson as the only players in NBA history with at least 20 points and 10 assists in their NBA debut. In addition, his 11 assists were the most by an NBA rookie in his first game since Jason Kidd (11) in 1994
1995: 5th Loss for Golden State Warriors
On February 19, 2016, Damian Lillard scored a career-high 51 points in a 137–105 win over the Golden State Warriors. This would be the fifth of just nine losses all season for Golden State, who eventually went on to win 73 games, surpassing the 1995–96 Chicago Bulls for the winningest regular season of all-time.
1997: Buzzer-Beating Shot
In Game 6 of the series in 2014, Damian 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 series in 2014, Damian Lillard's 3-pointer as time expired gave Portland a 99–98 victory over Houston, as he finished with 25 points to lift the Trail Blazers to their first playoff series win since 2000.
2004: Franchise Leader for 3-Point Field Goals
In 2012, 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: NBA Rookie Record for 3-Pointers
In 2012, 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 Scoring Lead and Foot Injury
In the 2010–11 season, Damian Lillard led the Big Sky in scoring with 19.7 points per contest. He then suffered a foot injury ten games into the season, forcing him to take a medical redshirt and sidelining him for the rest 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 to give Weber State a 91–89 double-overtime win.
2011: Unanimous Rookie of the Year Award
With averages of 19.0 points, 3.1 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 0.90 steals, and 38.6 minutes in 82 games (all starting), Damian Lillard claimed the NBA Rookie of the Year Award in 2012, joining Blake Griffin (2011), David Robinson (1990), and Ralph Sampson (1984) as the only unanimous winners.
2012: NBA Draft and All-American Honors
In 2012, Damian Lillard earned third-team All-American honors. Also in 2012, he was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers with the sixth overall pick in the NBA draft.
2012: 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 with the sixth overall pick in the NBA draft by the Portland Trail Blazers.
2012: Entry into the NBA Draft
In 2012, widely regarded as the top point guard prospect in the country, Damian Lillard decided to skip his senior season to enter the NBA draft, finishing his college career as the No. 2 scorer in Weber State history (1,934 points) and the No. 5 scorer in Big Sky history.
2012: 2,000th NBA Field Goal
On January 18, 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: Revived Never Worry Picnic
In 2013, Lillard revived the Never Worry Picnic in Brookfield Park after his standout rookie season.
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: New Contract with Adidas
In 2014, Damian Lillard negotiated a new contract with Adidas potentially worth $100 million over 10 years. Lillard has a signature shoe line with Adidas, the "Adidas Dame".
2014: NBA Playoffs and All-NBA Third Team Selection
In 2014, Damian Lillard started all 82 games for the second straight year, averaging 20.7 points, 5.6 assists, and 3.5 rebounds per game, leading Portland to a 54–28 record and a first-round playoff series against the Houston Rockets. He was named to the All-NBA Third Team at the season's end.
January 5, 2015: 39-Point Effort Against the Lakers
On January 5, 2015, Damian Lillard had a 39-point effort against the Los Angeles Lakers.
February 8, 2015: Selected for the NBA All-Star Game
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: Release of "Soldier in the Game"
In July 2015, Damian Lillard released his first full-length single, "Soldier in the Game", via SoundCloud.
October 28, 2015: Fastest to 600 Career Three-Pointers
On October 28, 2015, Damian Lillard recorded 21 points and 11 assists in a season-opening win over the New Orleans Pelicans. His one three-pointer made during the game was his 600th career three-point field goal, making him the fastest NBA player in history to reach the mark at 247 games.
February 19, 2016: Career-High 51 Points Against Golden State Warriors
On February 19, 2016, 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.
October 21, 2016: Release of The Letter O
On October 21, 2016, Damian Lillard released his debut album, The Letter O.
October 25, 2016: 39 Points in Season Opener
On October 25, 2016, in the Trail Blazers' season opener, Damian Lillard scored 39 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists in a 113–104 victory over the Utah Jazz. During the game, Lillard also surpassed Jim Paxson for sixth on the franchise career list with his 2,008th assist.
2016: MVP Race
In the 2016 MVP Race, Damian Lillard finished 8th in total points received, scoring 26 points out of a possible 1310 points.
April 3, 2017: Western Conference Player of the Month
On April 3, 2017, Damian Lillard was named Western Conference Player of the Month for his performance in March. During March 2017, he averaged 29.1 points per game, along with 6.0 assists, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.44 steals, leading the Trail Blazers to an NBA-best 13–3 record.
May 2, 2017: Recipient of the Magic Johnson Award
On May 2, 2017, Damian Lillard was named the recipient of the Magic Johnson Award for the 2016-17 season. This award recognizes the player who best combines excellence on the basketball court with cooperation and dignity in dealing with the media and the public.
October 6, 2017: Release of Confirmed
On October 6, 2017, Damian Lillard released his second album, Confirmed.
October 28, 2017: Reaches 9,000 Career Points
On October 28, 2017, during a game against the Phoenix Suns, Damian Lillard reached the 9,000-point milestone in his career during the third quarter. He became the fastest Trail Blazer to reach this milestone, achieving it in 402 career games.
2017: Sponsorship Deal with Powerade
In 2017, Damian Lillard signed a sponsorship deal with Powerade, a subsidiary of the Coca-Cola Company.
October 18, 2018: 28 points in season opener against the Los Angeles Lakers
On October 18, 2018, Damian Lillard scored a game-high 28 points in the Trail Blazers' season opener, contributing to a 128–119 win over the Los Angeles Lakers.
November 8, 2019: Career-High 60 Points
On November 8, 2019, Damian Lillard recorded a then career-high 60 points in a game against the Brooklyn Nets, though the Trail Blazers lost the game 115–119.
2019: 6th place in the 2019 MVP race
In 2019, Damian Lillard placed 6th in the MVP race, receiving 69 of the 1,010 available points. The 2019 season was another one filled with milestones for the star point guard.
2019: Sponsorship Deal with Hulu
In 2019, 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: 61 Points Against Golden State Warriors
On January 20, 2020, Damian Lillard scored 61 points, along with 10 rebounds and 7 assists, in a 129–124 overtime win against the Golden State Warriors, surpassing his previous career high.
June 30, 2020: Cover Athlete for NBA 2K21
On June 30, 2020, Damian Lillard was selected to be the cover athlete for NBA 2K21.
September 2020: Release of Kobe and inclusion in NBA 2K21
In September 2020, Lillard's single "Kobe", featuring Snoop Dogg and Derrick Milano, was released and included in the soundtrack for NBA 2K21 as a tribute to Kobe Bryant.
2020: Summer Olympics
In 2021, Damian Lillard won a gold medal for the U.S. Olympic team in the 2020 Summer Olympics
January 30, 2021: Season-High 44 Points and Game-Winning Buzzer Beater
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 win 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 Philadelphia 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: Playoff Career-High 55 Points
During Game 5 of the first round of the 2021 playoffs against the Denver Nuggets, Lillard scored a playoff career-high 55 points with 12 made three-pointers and 10 assists; however, the Nuggets won in double-overtime. In Game 6 of 2021, Lillard had 29 points and 13 assists, but the Blazers lost to Denver sending Portland home in the First Round.
2021: Olympic Gold Medal and NBA 75th Anniversary Team
In 2021, Damian Lillard won a gold medal for the U.S. Olympic team in the 2020 Summer Olympics and was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.
2021: Out for the Season
In 2021, Lillard was ruled out for the remainder of the 2021-22 season, the first time since Lillard's rookie season that Portland missed the playoffs.
January 12, 2023: Then Season-High 50 Points Against Cleveland Cavaliers
On January 12, 2023, Damian Lillard scored a then season-high 50 points in a 119–113 loss against the Cleveland Cavaliers. It was 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
On October 26, 2023, Damian Lillard made his Bucks debut against the Philadelphia 76ers, scoring 39 points and grabbing eight rebounds in a 118–117 season-opening victory.
2023: Trade to the Milwaukee Bucks
In 2023, Damian Lillard was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks after requesting a trade.
January 14, 2024: Game-Winning Three-Pointer
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.
April 10, 2024: Featured in Mirror's single "Day 0"
On April 10, 2024, Damian Lillard was featured in Hong Kong boy group Mirror's single "Day 0".
November 2, 2024: 41 Points Against Cleveland 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.
January 30, 2025: Named as Reserve for 2025 NBA All-Star Game
On January 30, 2025, Damian Lillard was named as reserve for the 2025 NBA All-Star Game, his ninth selection.
July 6, 2025: Waived by the Bucks
On July 6, 2025, the Bucks announced they had waived Lillard, stretching the remaining $103 million left on his deal.
July 19, 2025: Return to the Trail Blazers
On July 19, 2025, the Trail Blazers signed Lillard to a three-year, $42 million deal, marking his return to the franchise after previously spending 11 seasons with the team.
August 2, 2025: General Manager of Weber State
On August 2, 2025, Lillard 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
After suffering an Achilles injury during the 2025 playoffs, Damian Lillard was released by the Bucks after two seasons and subsequently rejoined the Trail Blazers on a three-year deal.
2026: Contract Extension
After the 2021-22 season, Lillard signed a two-year, $122 million extension, which would keep him under contract through the 2026–27 season.
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