Weber State University Athletics
Damian Lillard named to NBA 75th Anniversary Team
10/22/2021 8:39:00 PM | Men's Basketball
“It’s a special honor, probably the best honor of my career so far to be considered one of the 75 best in a 75-year history,” Lillard said. “For somebody that comes from the background that I come from, my story of going to Weber State, a small school. And then the rise from that, it should have never been that way. To come from that and exceed all the expectations on this type of level, I never could have dreamed of it.”
2021 has been a memorable year for Damian Lillard and it was added to on Thursday as he was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team, as one of the best players in league history.
The league announced the anniversary team this week at the opening of the 75th NBA season.
Lillard is entering his 10th season with the Portland Trail Blazers and has been named to six All-NBA Teams and six NBA All-Star games. He recently moved into the top 100 in scoring in NBA history.
"It's a special honor, probably the best honor of my career so far to be considered one of the 75 best in a 75-year history," Lillard said. "That's a hell of an accomplishment, a hell of an honor. And I'm still playing.
"For somebody that comes from the background that I come from, my story of going to Weber State, a small school. And then the rise from that, it should have never been that way. To come from that and exceed all the expectations on this type of level, I never could have dreamed of it."
Earlier this year, Lillard won a gold medal as part of Team USA at the Tokyo Olympics. He welcomed twins to his family in January and was married in September. He hosted the Weber State Men's Basketball Alumni Classic in August and was inducted into the Weber State Hall of Fame in September.
The Weber State legend played four years in Ogden from 2008-12 and earned All-America honors in 2012, the only player in Big Sky history to be named to an All-America team.
He was a two-time Big Sky MVP and three-time All-Big Sky selection and led Weber State to two Big Sky titles.
He was drafted sixth in the 2012 NBA Draft by Portland and earned NBA Rookie of the Year honors in 2013.
Lillard's No. 1 jersey was retired at Weber State in 2017.
The league announced the anniversary team this week at the opening of the 75th NBA season.
Lillard is entering his 10th season with the Portland Trail Blazers and has been named to six All-NBA Teams and six NBA All-Star games. He recently moved into the top 100 in scoring in NBA history.
"It's a special honor, probably the best honor of my career so far to be considered one of the 75 best in a 75-year history," Lillard said. "That's a hell of an accomplishment, a hell of an honor. And I'm still playing.
"For somebody that comes from the background that I come from, my story of going to Weber State, a small school. And then the rise from that, it should have never been that way. To come from that and exceed all the expectations on this type of level, I never could have dreamed of it."
Earlier this year, Lillard won a gold medal as part of Team USA at the Tokyo Olympics. He welcomed twins to his family in January and was married in September. He hosted the Weber State Men's Basketball Alumni Classic in August and was inducted into the Weber State Hall of Fame in September.
The Weber State legend played four years in Ogden from 2008-12 and earned All-America honors in 2012, the only player in Big Sky history to be named to an All-America team.
He was a two-time Big Sky MVP and three-time All-Big Sky selection and led Weber State to two Big Sky titles.
He was drafted sixth in the 2012 NBA Draft by Portland and earned NBA Rookie of the Year honors in 2013.
Lillard's No. 1 jersey was retired at Weber State in 2017.
One of the best to ever play! ??
— Weber State Athletics (@weberstate) October 22, 2021
Congrats to @WeberStateMBB legend Damian Lillard on being named to the #NBA75 Anniversary Team! #WeAreWeber @Dame_Lillard https://t.co/KUoaZ0Es40
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