One of the NBA’s top-scoring players, Damian Lillard is a highly skilled point guard known for his versatility. He was chosen by the Portland Trail Blazers as the sixth pick in the 2012 NBA draft, following an impressive tenure at Weber State University.
He achieved a remarkable feat by scoring 71 points in a game during the 2023 season and established himself as one of the top shooters in the league. Just before the start of the 2023–24 season, he was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Damian Lillard Bio Summary
Full name: Damian Lamonte Ollie Lillard Sr.
Nickname: Dame
Date of birth: July 15, 1990
Age: 34 years old (2024)
Nationality: American
Height: 6 ft 3 in
Current Team: Portland Trail Blazers
Draft: 2012
Role: Point Guard
Debut: October 31, 2012
Spouse: Kay’la Hanson
Early Life
Damian Lillard was born in Oakland, California, US on July 15, 1990. His parents, Gina and Houston Lillard have a daughter named LaNae and a son named Houston.
Houston is a quarterback in the ‘Indoor Football League’ while Lillard’s passion for skating and basketball stood out from a young age. Growing up, he could often be found at the local skating rink or basketball court.
Education
He attended ‘St. Joseph Notre Dame High School’ in Alameda, California for his sophomore year, where NBA star Jason Kidd also attended. After that, Lillard transferred to ‘Oakland High School’ for his final two years of high school.
This move allowed him to play more and under the coaching of Orlando Watkins, he continued to develop his skills. Lillard also joined the Oakland Rebels, the top Amateur Athletic Union basketball team in the city, and averaged 22.4 points per game.
After finishing high school, he was considered a two-star recruit by ‘Rivals.com’ for his athletic abilities and potential to play in college. He received a scholarship to attend ‘Weber State University’ in Ogden, Utah, where he graduated in 2015 with a degree in professional sales.
During his time in college, he made significant progress in his game and became the top player for the Weber State Wildcats in the regular season conference championship.
As a result of his outstanding performance, he was recognized with the prestigious Big Sky Player of the Year award and was mentioned by the highly-regarded ‘Associated Press.’ When he graduated, he had become the fifth-highest scorer in the history of the ‘Big Sky’ division.
Despite suffering a foot injury that required him to take a temporary break, he had a successful basketball season and was awarded the “Big Sky Player of the Year” for the second time (2010-2011). He went on to become the second-highest scorer in Weber State’s history and decided to forgo his senior year to enter the 2012 NBA draft.
NBA Career
Dame was chosen by the Portland Trail Blazers as the sixth overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. Similarly, his first season with the team was remarkable. He made history by scoring 23 points and 11 assists in his debut game, becoming just the third player ever to achieve this feat.
As a result of his achievements, Damian Lillard became the recipient of the 2013 NBA Rookie of the Year award. In his second season (Third), he was selected for both the NBA All-Star and All-NBA teams. He also made a memorable three-pointer in the final seconds of a game against Houston, leading to their elimination from the first round. This was their first postseason series victory since 2000.
Moreover, in 2015, he achieved his 600th successful three-point shot in his professional career, making him the quickest player in NBA history to accomplish this feat. Regrettably, he also suffered a foot injury in 2015, putting an end to his run of playing in 275 consecutive games.
Despite Damian Lillard‘s consistent success as an All-NBA player, the Trail Blazers’ management was unable to construct a strong team around him. During his time with the franchise, he only had one fellow all-star teammate, LaMarcus Aldridge, who departed in 2015.
CJ McCollum, who was supposed to be Lillard’s second-in-command, frequently dealt with injuries. Despite reaching the Western Conference Finals once, the team was ultimately swept by the Warriors.
In 2016-17, Damian Lillard was presented with the Magic Johnson Award. Throughout the years, he consistently achieved remarkable results and made record-breaking accomplishments.
In 2022, he was recognized with multiple accolades, such as the NBA Rising Star Award and the NBA Bubble Most Valuable Player for 2020. He also emerged victorious twice in the NBA Skills Challenge.
During his 11-year tenure with Portland, Damian Lillard consistently showed his commitment to a team that, although frequently successful, had difficulties moving up to the next level. However, after the 2022-23 season, he requested a transfer and specifically mentioned the Miami Heat as his desired destination.
In a major three-team deal that also involved the Phoenix Suns, the Blazers traded him to the Milwaukee Bucks on the eve of the 2023-24 season. At the time of the trade, Lillard ranked fourth in scoring average among active players, trailing behind Kevin Durant, Joel Embiid, and LeBron James.
Damian Lillard’s debut with the Bucks on October 26, 2023, was a historic one as he scored 39 points, setting a new record for the highest debut score by a Milwaukee player.
Wife & Kids
Damian Lillard tied the knot with his longtime partner Kayla Hanson in September 2021 and has three children together – Damian Jr., Kali, and Kalii. The two got engaged in 2021 and have been acquainted since their days at Weber State University.
The pair first met at Weber State University during their college years and recently became engaged in 2021. Kayla Hanson, the wife of NBA player Damian Lillard for the Portland Trail Blazers, is not only a licensed nurse but also an entrepreneur.
Net Worth
Based on the latest updates, it is believed that Damian Lillard’s net worth is approximately $100 million. A significant element that impacts his overall worth is his contractual agreement with the Milwaukee Bucks. His present deal is valid until the 2024-25 NBA season and earns him a salary of more than $45 million annually.
