Damian Lillard

Damian Lillard built his reputation on one simple premise: the more pressure in the moment, the more likely the shot goes in. His 37-foot buzzer-beater against Oklahoma City in the 2019 first round — stepping into a pull-up three from the Portland logo with the series on the line — became the defining moment of "Dame Time," a phrase that had described his late-game performance for years before that sequence confirmed it.

Statistically, Lillard ranks sixth all-time in three-pointers made with over 2,600 career threes, and his range has always been the operational threat that makes him difficult to guard. Defenses that extend out to contest him create driving lanes; defenses that give him space yield open pull-up threes from distances that most players do not even practice from. He has worked this gap consistently for over a decade.

In 2024-25, following his trade to Milwaukee, he averaged 25.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 7.2 assists per game — numbers that closely match his Portland career line, suggesting the move did not disrupt his production. His 36.2% three-point mark that season on high volume reflects the natural variance of deep-range shooting rather than any decline in ability.

Lillard attended Weber State, a mid-major program in Ogden, Utah — a recruiting destination off the beaten path for future stars. His progression from capable starter to franchise cornerstone to perennial All-Star was measured and consistent rather than sudden, and it produced one of the most loyal player-franchise relationships in the league's modern era.