PORTLAND, Ore. (April 3, 2017) – Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard has been named NBA Western Conference Player of the Month for March, the league announced today.
Lillard, 26, posted averages of 29.1 points (48.3% FG, 41.7% 3-PT, 87.7% FT), 4.4 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 1.44 steals in 16 games last month, and the Trail Blazers posted an NBA-best 13-3 record.
With eight games of 30-plus points in March, Lillard became the first player in Trail Blazers history to record eight games of 30-plus in a calendar month. His 465 points in March set a new franchise record for points scored in the month, passing Clyde Drexler’s 438 points in March of 1989.
Lillard scored a season-high 49 points (14-21 FG, 9-12 3-PT) at Miami on March 19, with nine 3-pointers matching his own franchise-best. His 49 points were the most by any NBA player on 21 field goal attempts or fewer since Amar’e Stoudemire in 2008.
This is the first NBA Player of the Month award for Lillard, who joins Kelvin Ransey (March 1981), Drexler (November 1991) and LaMarcus Aldridge (February 2011) as Trail Blazers who have taken home the honor.
Winners of six straight, the Trail Blazers have a 38-38 record and are currently in the eighth spot in the playoff chase.
Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Month