These days, Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers is known as one of the best guards in the game and an undeniable talent who can never be counted out.
However, there was a time when he was a rookie just like any other and people weren’t sure of how much potential and promise he had.
#OTD in 2012, Damian Lillard made his NBA debut vs. the Lakers 🔥
23 points
11 assists#RipCitypic.twitter.com/ra9FjwnR9x— Dame Nation (@DameNationCP) October 31, 2022
Fans of the team are celebrating ten years of Lillard in the NBA.
On October 31, 2012, Lillard made his NBA debut against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Right off the bat, the young man made his presence known, scoring 23 points and 11 assists.
Since then, Lillard has reached some incredible highs and painful lows with his Portland team.
What’s next for the great guard?
Dame Time Begins
Back in 2012, Lillard was known as the sixth overall draft pick out of Weber State who could get very hot with his shooting at times and may have been the missing piece that Portland needed.
Today, he is the undeniable leader of the team and is averaging 31 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists a game.
Again and again, people have counted Lillard out and thought that his best days were behind him.
His team has struggled mightily over the years and has never had the sort of postseason success they wanted.
But Lillard has always shown up to play hard no matter the odds against him and his team.
You saw quite a few glimpses of his drive back in that first game in 2012.
That drive, skill, and determination have only grown over the years.
The Blazers got off to a surprisingly strong start this year, again showing that Lillard will play hard for the entirety of his career.
NEXT: The Trail Blazers Got Bad News About Their Superstar