No. 5: Damian Lillard
Damian Lillard had another exceptional season last year capped off with a Western Conference Finals run for the first time for the Portland Trail Blazers in nearly twenty years. He’s a phenomenal leader for the Blazers and appears to love every part of putting Rip City on his back.
Lillard is a guy who seems to get better every year and another jump should be expected entering his eighth year as the Trail Blazers’ lead guard. Each year we watch Lillard take the court he seems more mature as a point guard and as a leader.
Lillard has an impressive offensive repertoire of different ways for getting the ball into the basket. He can break you down with a dribble move that has him laying the ball up before the defender has time to notice where Lillard went. His three-ball is about as deadly as you’re going to find in the association and the ability to shoot off the dribble or catch and shoot is what makes him lethal from any spot on the court.
There is no weakness for Damian Lillard on the offensive side of the ball, as he shoots free throws at an incredibly high clip of 91.2 percent and his ball handling ability is truly special. He’s got the breaks out the full arsenal every game and his skill of creating space makes him such a tough match for anybody.
After finishing 11th in points per game last season, there’s no reason he shouldn’t be able to propel himself into league’s top five scorers at the years end. Kevin Durant will be out next year due to injury and five of the players above Dame teamed up, meaning they’re probably set for a bit of regression. He has all the pieces necessary and a perfect team around him to achieve this.