February 2, 2018. The Blazers leave Scotiabank Arena from the Raptors with a heavy 25-point loss. But Damian Lillard finds at least one reason for personal satisfaction in this meeting. Not only has he just passed the symbolic milestone of 10,000 points scored. But what’s more, he’s the fastest in Blazers history to do so.
” I said to myself: ‘Damn, already 10,000?’. It was my sixth season in the league. That’s when I started thinking that if I was consistent, I could hit 20,000 points. For a scorer, 20,000 points is still considered a singular mark. From there I knew it was possible, but it’s also where I did my first research on Clyde Drexler’s points record with the team. », reports leader to Yahoo.
A year later, after passing LaMarcus Aldridge, then 2nd among the best scorers in Blazers history (now 3rd therefore, with 12,562 points), the multiple All-Star will say: “ Now I’m going to get Clyde. I will do it. »
Still three years later, there is no longer too much doubt. With his 17,510 points, he is only 530 points behind his illustrious elder Clyde Drexler (18,040 points). By keeping his career cruising speed – 25 points on average – he should become No. 1 in around twenty matches.
A record marker of loyalty
A perspective that seems to delight the Hall of Famer, who evolved in Portland from 1983 to 1995: “ Records are made to be broken, but I can’t think of a better player or person to break the record than Dame. He embodies being a team player and behaving like a professional. I have nothing but admiration and respect for him. When he’s about to break the record, if our schedules coincide, I’d like to be there to help him in any way I can. It’s a nice step to take. I can’t wait for him to do it. »
Behind this dimension of record hides the issue of loyalty to the same franchise, a subject on which the two men have had the opportunity to discuss in the past. Drexler had indeed requested his transfer in 1995. And a few weeks after being sent to Houston, he had won his only career title alongside Hakeem Olajuwon. To see if Lillard, 32, will end up imitating him in the future…
” Clyde wanted to see me win in Portland. But he told me to do what I had to to be happy. He also told me to make the franchise accountable. And at that point, I thought to myself, I would hate to be so close to the goal and miss this opportunity to get past Drexler if I had to leave. I’m almost there. I really thought about it, but I never really believed that I was going to leave Portland “says Lillard for whom this record” would mean a lot “.
| Damian Lillard | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2012-13 | ORP | 82 | 39 | 42.9 | 36.8 | 84.4 | 0.5 | 2.6 | 3.1 | 6.5 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 3.0 | 0.2 | 19.1 |
| 2013-14 | ORP | 82 | 36 | 42.4 | 39.4 | 87.1 | 0.4 | 3.1 | 3.5 | 5.6 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 2.4 | 0.3 | 20.7 |
| 2014-15 | ORP | 82 | 36 | 43.4 | 34.3 | 86.4 | 0.6 | 4.0 | 4.6 | 6.2 | 2.0 | 1.2 | 2.7 | 0.3 | 21.0 |
| 2015-16 | ORP | 75 | 36 | 41.9 | 37.5 | 89.2 | 0.6 | 3.4 | 4.0 | 6.8 | 2.2 | 0.9 | 3.2 | 0.4 | 25.1 |
| 2016-17 | ORP | 75 | 36 | 44.4 | 37.0 | 89.5 | 0.6 | 4.3 | 4.9 | 5.9 | 2.0 | 0.9 | 2.6 | 0.3 | 27.0 |
| 2017-18 | ORP | 73 | 37 | 43.9 | 36.1 | 91.6 | 0.9 | 3.6 | 4.5 | 6.6 | 1.6 | 1.1 | 2.8 | 0.4 | 26.9 |
| 2018-19 | ORP | 80 | 36 | 44.4 | 36.9 | 91.2 | 0.9 | 3.8 | 4.6 | 6.9 | 1.9 | 1.1 | 2.7 | 0.4 | 25.8 |
| 2019-20 | ORP | 66 | 38 | 46.3 | 40.1 | 88.8 | 0.5 | 3.8 | 4.3 | 8.0 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 2.9 | 0.3 | 30.0 |
| 2020-21 | ORP | 67 | 36 | 45.1 | 39.1 | 92.8 | 0.5 | 3.8 | 4.2 | 7.5 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 3.0 | 0.3 | 28.8 |
| 2021-22 | ORP | 29 | 36 | 40.2 | 32.4 | 87.8 | 0.5 | 3.7 | 4.1 | 7.3 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 2.9 | 0.4 | 24.0 |
| Total | 711 | 36 | 43.7 | 37.3 | 89.3 | 0.6 | 3.6 | 4.2 | 6.7 | 1.9 | 1.0 | 2.8 | 0.3 | 24.6 | |
