Photo: Ford, Brad (uploader)
Photo: Getty Images
The NBA announced today that Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard has been named an NBA Western Conference All-Star reserve by a vote of NBA head coaches.
In his 11th season, Lillard has accrued averages of 30.7 points (46.4% FG, 37.2% 3-PT, 90.7% FT), 4.1 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 0.9 steals and 36.0 minutes in 39 games during the 2022-23 NBA season. Lillard ranks sixth in the NBA in points per game this season, ninth in assists per game and seventh in three-point field goals made (161). During the month of January, Lillard led all players in total points (517), total three-point field goals made (59) and total free throws made (144).
An All-Star for the seventh time in his career, Lillard became the franchise leader in points on December 19, 2022, at Oklahoma City, passing Clyde Drexler as the current scoring leader with 18,708. Lillard ranks third in the NBA this season with nine games of at least 40 points while also scoring 50-plus points twice and a season-high 60 points vs. Utah on January 25.
The Weber State product has 20 games this season of scoring at least 30 points, including his last five consecutive contests, and currently on a 13-game streak of scoring 20 points or more. Lillard has been named Player of the Week twice this season; for the week of January 30 and the week of October 24, 2022.
The five starters from the Western Conference are Stephen Curry (Golden State), Luka Dončić (Dallas), LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers), Nikola Jokić (Denver) and Zion Williamson (New Orleans). In addition to Lillard, the reserves from the Western Conference are Paul George (LA Clippers), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City), Jaren Jackson Jr. (Memphis), Lauri Markkanen (Utah), Ja Morant (Memphis) and Domantas Sabonis (Sacramento).
NBA All-Star 2023 will be held on Sunday, February 19 at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City.
Source: Portland Trail Blazers