Rip City Project
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Portland Trail Blazers: 15 best draft picks of all-time

By John Buhler

BOSTON - 1970: Bill Walton #32 of the Portland Trailblazers makes a pass against the Boston Celtics during the NBA game at the Boston Garden in Boston, Masachussetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON - 1970: Bill Walton #32 of the Portland Trailblazers makes a pass against the Boston Celtics during the NBA game at the Boston Garden in Boston, Masachussetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers
(Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

You just knew this guy was going to crack the top-five. Point guard Damian Lillard has been sensational since the Trail Blazers used the No. 6 overall pick on him in the 2012 NBA Draft out of Weber State. Who says small school guys can’t cut it in the NBA? Lillard and fellow small school guy in shooting guard CJ McCollum have made the Trail Blazers one of the best teams in the Western Conference the last few years.

Lillard was an immediately impactful player for Portland, winning NBA Rookie of the Year in 2013. He averaged 19.0 points, 6.5 assists and 3.1 rebounds per game in 38.6 minutes per contest. Lillard followed up that impressive rookie campaign with his first of three NBA All-Star appearances so far. He made the All-NBA third team as well that sophomore season in the league. That season saw Lillard hit the biggest shot of his career, a game winner over the Houston Rockets in Game 6 of the first round of the NBA Playoffs. This clinched Portland its first playoff series victory since 2000.

After seeing power forward LaMarcus Aldridge leave for the San Antonio Spurs in 2015 NBA free agency, Lillard absolutely stepped into the star role on the Portland hardwood. To date, he has made three trips to the NBA All-Star Game and made three All-NBA teams. 2017-18 saw Lillard achieve new heights, as an All-NBA first team representative. He averaged 26.9 points, 6.6 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game this past year.

Lillard is only six years into his NBA career. He stands a chance at being the greatest player in franchise history. Of course, he’ll need to play a few more years at an elite level to catch Clyde Drexler. Winning an NBA championship could potentially catapult him past the brilliant, but injury-riddled career of Bill Walton. Regardless, Lillard has been an absolute delight to watch go to work offensively for the last half decade. Here’s to many more outstanding years for Big Game Dame in Rip City.