Damian Lillard is an American professional basketball player known for his clutch shots, earning him the nickname "Dame Time". He played college basketball for Weber State University, achieving All-American honors before being drafted sixth overall by the Portland Trail Blazers in 2012. Lillard won Rookie of the Year in 2013 and, as a Trail Blazer, earned seven NBA All-Star and seven All-NBA Team selections. He currently plays for the Milwaukee Bucks.
1968: Damian Lillard Becomes the First Rookie to Lead the NBA in Total Minutes Played Since 1968
Damian Lillard became the first rookie to lead the NBA in total minutes played (3,167) since Elvin Hayes in 1968–69.
March 1971: Geoff Petrie Sets Portland Trail Blazers Scoring Record
In March 1971, Geoff Petrie set the Portland Trail Blazers' single-month scoring record, averaging 30.4 points per game.
1977: Bill Walton Earns All-NBA First Team Honors
In the 1977–78 season, Bill Walton earned All-NBA First Team honors, making him one of the three players in Portland Trail Blazers franchise history to achieve this recognition, alongside Clyde Drexler and later Damian Lillard.
1978: Damian Lillard Sets a New NBA Record
On March 8, against the San Antonio Spurs, 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.
1981: Damian Lillard Wins Rookie of the Month Every Month of his First Season
Damian Lillard earned Western Conference Rookie of the Month honors for every month of his first season, becoming one of just eight players to sweep NBA Rookie of the Month honors since the inaugural award in 1981–82.
1984: Damian Lillard Wins Rookie of the Year
Damian Lillard was named the NBA Rookie of the Year in 1984, joining Blake Griffin (2011), David Robinson (1990), and Ralph Sampson (1984) as the only unanimous winners.
1986: Damian Lillard Joins Clyde Drexler as the Only Trail Blazers to Complete a Season With at Least 1,500 Points and 500 Assists
Damian Lillard became one of two Trail Blazers 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: Terry Porter's Assist Milestone
Terry Porter achieved a milestone in assists during the 1987-88 season.
July 15, 1990: Damian Lillard is born
On July 15, 1990, Damian Lamonte Ollie Lillard Sr. was born.
1990: Damian Lillard Wins Rookie of the Year
Damian Lillard was named the NBA Rookie of the Year in 1990, joining Blake Griffin (2011), David Robinson (1990), and Ralph Sampson (1984) as the only unanimous winners.
1991: Damian Lillard Joins Clyde Drexler as the Only Trail Blazers to Complete a Season With at Least 1,500 Points and 500 Assists
Damian Lillard became one of two Trail Blazers 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: Clyde Drexler Ranks Among NBA's Top Scorers
During the 1991–92 season, Clyde Drexler finished fourth in scoring average in the NBA (25.0). This marked the last time a Portland Trail Blazers player ranked among the league's top five scorers before Damian Lillard achieved the same feat in 2018.
1991: Clyde Drexler's Scoring and Assists Record
In the 1991-92 NBA season, Clyde Drexler achieved a record for scoring and assists for the Portland Trail Blazers.
1994: Damian Lillard Breaks an NBA Rookie Record Held Since 1994
In his first game, Damian Lillard had 11 assists, the most by an NBA rookie in his first game since Jason Kidd (11) in 1994, and the most ever by a Trail Blazer in his NBA debut.
1997: John Stockton's Buzzer-Beater
In 1997, Utah Jazz point guard John Stockton made a buzzer-beating shot to win a playoff series against the Houston Rockets.
2000: Trail Blazers' Last Playoff Series Win
Before 2014, the Portland Trail Blazers last won a playoff series in 2000.
2000: Trail Blazers Reach Western Conference Finals
In 2000, the Portland Trail Blazers advanced to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2000 after defeating the Denver Nuggets in the second round of the playoffs.
2004: Damian Lillard Sets Trail Blazers Franchise Record for Most 3-Pointers in a Season
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: Damian Lillard Breaks Stephen Curry's 3-Pointer Record
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: Damian Lillard Suffers a Foot Injury
During the 2010-2011 season, Damian Lillard led the Big Sky in scoring with 19.7 points per contest, before suffering a foot injury that forced him to take a medical redshirt, sidelining him for the rest of the year.
December 3, 2011: Damian Lillard Scores Career High 41 Points
On December 3, 2011, Damian Lillard scored a college career-high 41 points against San Jose State, including a game-clinching three-pointer to give Weber State a 91–89 double-overtime win.
2011: Damian Lillard Wins Rookie of the Year
Damian Lillard was named the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2011, joining Blake Griffin (2011), David Robinson (1990), and Ralph Sampson (1984) as the only unanimous winners.
2012: Damian Lillard is Drafted to the NBA
Damian Lillard was selected with the sixth overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft by the Portland Trail Blazers.
2012: Damian Lillard enters the 2012 NBA Draft
In 2012, Damian Lillard decided to skip his senior season of college to enter the 2012 NBA draft. He finished his college career as the No. 2 scorer in Weber State history with 1,934 points, and the No. 5 scorer in Big Sky history.
2012: Damian Lillard earns third-team All-American honors
In 2012, Damian Lillard earned third-team All-American honors for his performance playing college basketball for the Weber State Wildcats.
2012: Lillard Signs Multi-Year Sponsorship Deal with Adidas
In 2012, Damian Lillard secured a multi-year sponsorship agreement with Adidas, marking the beginning of a long-term partnership with the sportswear giant.
2012: Players Reaching 2,000 Field Goals
Since the 2012-13 NBA season, eight players, including Damian Lillard, have reached the milestone of 2,000 field goals made.
2013: Lillard Revives Never Worry Picnic in Brookfield Park
After his impressive rookie season in 2013, Damian Lillard revived the Never Worry Picnic in Brookfield Park, an event in his hometown of East Oakland that had been discontinued since his childhood.
December 19, 2014: Lillard Scores 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 San Antonio Spurs.
2014: Lillard Leads Trail Blazers to First Playoff Series Win Since 2000
During the 2014 NBA playoffs, Damian Lillard led the Portland Trail Blazers to their first playoff series win since 2000. He started all 82 games in the regular season, averaging 20.7 points, 5.6 assists, and 3.5 rebounds per game. In Game 6 of the first round against the Houston Rockets, Lillard made a buzzer-beating three-pointer to secure a 99-98 victory.
2014: Lillard Inks Lucrative Contract with Adidas, Launches Signature Shoe Line
In 2014, Damian Lillard renegotiated his contract with Adidas, securing a potentially lucrative deal worth $100 million over 10 years. This partnership also saw the launch of Lillard's signature shoe line, the "Adidas Dame", solidifying his brand presence in the basketball world.
January 5, 2015: Lillard Scores 39 Points Against Lakers
On January 5, 2015, Damian Lillard scored 39 points against the Los Angeles Lakers.
February 8, 2015: Lillard Selected as All-Star Replacement
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: Lillard Grabs 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.
May 2015: Damian Lillard Graduates College
In May 2015, Damian Lillard completed his degree in professional sales from Weber State University.
July 9, 2015: Lillard Signs Five-Year Contract Extension
On July 9, 2015, Damian Lillard signed a five-year, $120 million contract extension with the Portland Trail Blazers.
July 2015: Lillard Launches "Four Bar Friday" and Releases First Single
In July 2015, Damian Lillard initiated a social media trend called "Four Bar Friday," encouraging individuals to share short rap verses on Instagram every Friday using the hashtag #4BarFriday. He also released his first full-length single, "Soldier in the Game," on SoundCloud, showcasing his musical talent.
October 28, 2015: Lillard Becomes Fastest Player to 600 Three-Pointers
On October 28, 2015, during a season-opening win over the New Orleans Pelicans, Damian Lillard made 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: Lillard Releases Debut Album "The Letter O"
On October 21, 2016, Damian Lillard released his debut album, "The Letter O," marking his official entry into the music industry as a recording artist.
2016: Damian Lillard Releases His First Album
In 2016, Damian Lillard released his first studio album, "The Letter O", under his stage name Dame D.O.L.L.A, which charted on the Billboard 200.
October 6, 2017: Lillard Releases Second Album "Confirmed"
On October 6, 2017, Damian Lillard released his second album, "Confirmed," building on his musical catalog and establishing himself as a serious artist.
October 28, 2017: Lillard Reaches 9,000-Point Milestone
On October 28, 2017, Damian Lillard reached the 9,000-point milestone during the third quarter of a 114–107 win over the Phoenix Suns. With 402 career games, Lillard became the fastest Blazer to score 9,000 points.
2017: Damian Lillard Releases His Second Album
Damian Lillard released his second album, "Confirmed", in 2017 under the stage name Dame D.O.L.L.A. It charted on the indie charts.
2017: Lillard Expands Endorsement Portfolio with Powerade
In 2017, Damian Lillard added another significant endorsement deal to his portfolio by signing with Powerade, a subsidiary of the Coca-Cola Company, further broadening his reach and influence in the sports beverage market.
March 29, 2018: Lillard Welcomes Son Damian Jr. and Establishes RESPECT Program
On March 29, 2018, Damian Lillard and his fiancée Kay'La Hanson welcomed their first child, a son named Damian Jr. Lillard also demonstrated his commitment to community engagement by establishing the RESPECT Program, aimed at supporting high school students in the Portland metro area to graduate.
October 18, 2018: Season Opener Against Lakers
On October 18, 2018, Damian Lillard scored a game-high 28 points, leading the Portland Trail Blazers to a 128-119 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in their season opener.
2018: Lillard's Career High in 3-Pointers
During the 2018 NBA season, Damian Lillard surpassed his own franchise record for most 3-pointers in a single season, previously set in the 2015-2016 season, and reached 1,500 career 3-pointers.
2018: Lillard Places 4th in MVP Race and Makes All-NBA First Team
In 2018, Damian Lillard placed fourth in the MVP race, receiving 207 out of 1010 possible points. He was also named to the All-NBA First Team, becoming the third player in Portland Trail Blazers history to achieve this honor, alongside Clyde Drexler and Bill Walton.
August 9, 2019: Lillard Releases Third Album "Big D.O.L.L.A." and Establishes Record Label
On August 9, 2019, Damian Lillard released his third album, "Big D.O.L.L.A.," featuring collaborations with notable artists such as Lil Wayne, Mozzy, and Jeremih. This period also saw Lillard establish his own record label, Front Page Music, further solidifying his presence in the music business.
November 8, 2019: Career-High 60 Points
On November 8, 2019, Damian Lillard set a new career-high by scoring 60 points in a game against the Brooklyn Nets.
2019: Lillard Joins Hulu's Live Sports Campaign
In 2019, Damian Lillard joined forces with Hulu, becoming one of several NBA players to promote the streaming service's new venture into live sports broadcasting.
2019: Damian Lillard Releases His Third Album
In 2019, Damian Lillard released his third album "Big D.O.L.L.A." under the stage name Dame D.O.L.L.A. It charted on the indie charts.
2019: Lillard's MVP Ranking
In 2019, Damian Lillard secured the 6th position in the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) race, earning 69 out of a possible 1,010 points.
January 20, 2020: Surpasses Career-High with 61 Points
Damian Lillard surpassed his previous career-high of 60 points on January 20, 2020, scoring 61 points in an overtime win against the Golden State Warriors.
June 30, 2020: NBA 2K21 Cover Athlete
Damian Lillard was chosen as the cover athlete for the popular video game NBA 2K21 on June 30, 2020.
September 2020: Lillard Releases Tribute Single "Kobe" for NBA 2K21 Soundtrack
In September 2020, Damian Lillard released a tribute single titled "Kobe," featuring Snoop Dogg and Derrick Milano, as part of the soundtrack for the NBA 2K21 video game, honoring the late Kobe Bryant.
2020: Damian Lillard Plays for the US Olympic Team
Damian Lillard was part of the US Olympic Team at the 2020 Summer Olympics.
2020: Lillard Teams Up with Cousin Blevins
In the 2020-21 NBA season, Damian Lillard played alongside his cousin, Keljin Blevins, on the Portland Trail Blazers.
January 2021: Lillard and Hanson Welcome Twins
In January 2021, Damian Lillard's fiancée, Kay’La Hanson, gave birth to twins, a daughter named Kali and a son named Kalii, expanding their family.
January 30, 2021: Lillard Scores Season-High 44 Points with Game-Winning Three
On January 30, 2021, Damian Lillard scored a season-high 44 points, including a game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer, to secure a 123-122 victory for the Portland Trail Blazers over the Chicago Bulls.
February 17, 2021: Lillard Ties Career-High in Assists with 43-Point Performance
On February 17, 2021, Damian Lillard delivered an impressive performance against the New Orleans Pelicans, scoring 43 points and tying his career-high with 16 assists in a Trail Blazers win. This achievement made him one of only 12 players in NBA history to record 40 points and 15 assists in a single game.
September 2021: Lillard Marries Hanson
In September 2021, Damian Lillard and Kay’La Hanson officially tied the knot, marking a significant milestone in their relationship.
November 20, 2021: Lillard Leads Trail Blazers to Victory with 39-Point Performance
On November 20, 2021, Damian Lillard led the Portland Trail Blazers to a 118-111 win over the Philadelphia 76ers with a season-high 39 points, along with 7 assists and 3 blocks.
2021: Damian Lillard Wins Olympic Gold and is Named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team
In 2021, Damian Lillard won a gold medal as part of the US Olympic team in the 2020 Summer Olympics. The same year, he was also named to the NBA 75th Anniversary team.
2021: Lillard Ruled Out for Remainder of Season, Trail Blazers Miss Playoffs
During the 2021-22 season, Blazers interim general manager Joe Cronin indicated that Damian Lillard would likely not return to play. On March 21, Lillard's season officially ended as he was ruled out for the remaining games. This marked the first time since Lillard's rookie season that the Portland Trail Blazers did not qualify for the playoffs, concluding the season with a 27-55 record.
2021: Lillard Sets Playoff Career-High with 55 Points, 12 Threes in Game 5 Loss
During the 2021 playoffs, in Game 5 of the first round against the Denver Nuggets, Damian Lillard delivered an outstanding performance, scoring a playoff career-high 55 points. He also set an NBA playoff record with 12 made three-pointers and dished out 10 assists. Despite his efforts, including game-tying threes at the end of regulation and the first overtime, the Nuggets emerged victorious with a 147-140 score in double overtime, taking a 3-2 series lead.
January 13, 2022: Lillard Undergoes Abdominal Surgery, Sidelined for 6-8 Weeks
On January 13, 2022, Damian Lillard underwent surgery to address an abdominal injury, ruling him out for an estimated 6 to 8 weeks.
January 12, 2023: Lillard Scores 50 Points in Loss Against Cavaliers
On January 12, 2023, Damian Lillard scored a then season-high 50 points in a 119-113 loss against the Cleveland Cavaliers. This marked his 15th career game with 50 or more points, putting him alongside James Harden and Stephen Curry as the only three players in the past 10 seasons with at least 10 50-point games.
September 27, 2023: Lillard Traded to Milwaukee Bucks in Three-Team Deal
On September 27, 2023, Damian Lillard was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in a three-team trade. The deal sent Jrue Holiday, Deandre Ayton, Toumani Camara, and a 2029 first-round draft pick to the Portland Trail Blazers, while Grayson Allen, Jusuf Nurkić, Nassir Little, and Keon Johnson were sent to the Phoenix Suns. The Trail Blazers also acquired the rights to swap first-round draft picks with Milwaukee in 2028 and 2030.
October 26, 2023: Lillard Debuts for Bucks with Franchise-Record 39 Points
On October 26, 2023, Damian Lillard made his debut for the Milwaukee Bucks in a game against the Philadelphia 76ers. He delivered an impressive performance, scoring 39 points, setting a new franchise record for a debut, and contributing eight rebounds in a 118-117 season-opening victory.
2023: Damian Lillard is Traded to the Milwaukee Bucks
In 2023, after a trade request, Damian Lillard was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks.
January 14, 2024: Lillard's Buzzer-Beater Leads Blazers to Overtime Win, Joins Elite 2,500 Three-Pointer Club
On January 14, 2024, Damian Lillard scored 29 points, including a game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer, to secure a 143–142 overtime victory for the Portland Trail Blazers against the Sacramento Kings. This achievement also marked Lillard's entry into an exclusive group of NBA players with at least 2,500 career three-pointers.
April 10, 2024: Lillard Collaborates with Mirror on Single "Day 0"
On April 10, 2024, Damian Lillard expanded his musical collaborations by featuring in the single "Day 0" by the Hong Kong boy group Mirror, showcasing his versatility and international appeal.
2024: Lillard and Hanson Divorce
By 2024, Damian Lillard and Kay’La Hanson had divorced, ending their marriage.