OAKLAND -- What Portland general manager Neil Olshey likes most about rookie point guard Damian Lillard is his duality.
Off the court, Lillard is a humble young man, well-mannered and congenial. A 22-year-old who can schmooze with executive types and endear himself to veteran teammates.
And on the court ...
"He's from Oakland," Olshey said. "He's got an edge. He's got swagger. I think it's that dichotomy that makes him special."
More than two months into the season, he is the front-runner for NBA Rookie of the Year honors. He's already being deemed the next in a tradition of elite Oakland point guards.
But what's dropping jaws around the league about Lillard, the sixth overall pick in the
Portland Trail Blazers Damian Lillard (front) tries to swing around Toronto Raptors defenders in the second half of their NBA basketball game in Toronto January 2, 2013. \ (FRED THORNHILL)
2012 draft, is how complete his game is. He's not just dominating with athleticism, or simply scoring in bunches. He's leading a team playing above-.500 ball, battling for a playoff spot in the tough Western Conference.And Friday, when the Warriors host the Trail Blazers, Lillard will play his first game in his hometown.
"Oh, I'm excited about it," Lillard said in an interview with ESPN. "When I was in grade school, my family had season tickets when they had Antawn Jamison, Jason Richardson and Mookie Blaylock. ... But I can't be too emotional about it now and caught up with who's coming -- especially since there are way more people there than I could ever get tickets for."
The physical elements of Lillard's game are no
doubt impressive. He's 6-foot-3, 195 pounds with deceptive athleticism. And don't let his outside shot get going."I don't know that there is anybody who you can compare him to," said TNT analyst Steve Kerr, who broadcast Thursday night's Portland-Miami matchup. "He combines deep shooting range with his penetration. ... Usually guys are better at one than the other. He appears to be equally efficient at both."
He is shooting just 42 percent from the field. But already Lillard has proved he can dominate a game offensively. His 18.2 points and. 6.5 assists in 38.1 minutes per game are tops among rookies.
"You've got to love everything about him," Warriors coach Mark Jackson said of Lillard. "We thought highly of him. He was clearly the best point guard in the draft. ... No surprise what he's doing. They found themselves a point guard to build on for a long time to come."
Lillard has impressed his teammates and NBA peers with his veteran aura. He plays with a poise that has impressed even LeBron James.
"He's never out of his comfort zone," James told reporters on Wednesday. "He's never too fast, he's never too slow. He plays in his own lane."
He's got the kind of control on the court that makes San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich take notice.
"His skills are obvious, but I like his demeanor as much as I like his skills," Popovich told reporters after Lillard totaled 29 points, seven rebounds and six assists in a mid-December win over the Spurs. "I think he's a wonderful player. He really plays within himself, and that doesn't mean he doesn't play hard. He's aggressive, he's not afraid of contact."
Lillard's journey explains his makeup. That edge to his game was inherited from his dad, Houston, known for handling his own on Oakland's blacktop in his day, and groomed in the same Oakland hoops culture that birthed Gary Payton and Jason Kidd.
But what added to it was the chip on Damian's shoulder that comes from being
Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard, left, drives on Orlando Magic guard Jameer Nelson during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Monday, Jan. 7, 2013. (AP Photo/Don Ryan) ( Don Ryan )
overlooked by major colleges. A star at Oakland High, he dominated the competition. But despite his obvious potential, Lillard wound up at Weber State in Utah. That didn't turn out to be the worst thing, as the culture shock helped hone his ability to adapt. The small-town, familial atmosphere of college allowed his personality to shine."We always taught him to respect people," Lillard's dad said. "He's always been a great kid. We've never had any problems with him. He gets along with everyone. If you don't like Damian, then something is wrong with you."
Weber State also prepared him for the task of running a team. Known for being a score-first guard, Lillard got experience as a floor general. He was the heart and soul of the Wildcats.
So instead of being less ready for the NBA because he came from a small school, he had gained valuable experience.
"He's not unlike Steph Curry in that he knows what it's like for any chance your team has of succeeding riding on you," Olshey said. "He's been in big-game situations. He's had to handle the pressure. He's unflappable."
FRIDAY'S game
Portland (19-15) at Warriors (22-12), 7:30 p.m. CSNBA
head of the class
Oakland native Damian Lillard is putting together a dominating rookie season. Here's how some of his stats rank with the rest of the 2012 draft class
Scoring
Damian Lillard, Por 18.2
Dion Waiters, Cle 14.1
Anthony Davis, NO 13.4
Bradley Beal, Wash 13.1
Alexey Shved, Min 11.2
M. Kidd-Gilchrist, Cha 10.9
Harrison Barnes, GS 9.1
Assists
Damian Lillard, Por 6.5
Alexey Shved, Min 4.7
Dion Waiters, Cle 3.2
Pablo Prigioni, NYK 2.8
Bradley Beal, Wash 2.6
Harrison Barnes, GS 9.1
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