FILE – Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers in action against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on December 17, 2022 in Houston, Texas. Carmen Mandato/Getty Images/AFP
Damian Lillard became the Portland Trail Blazers’ all-time leading scorer on Monday, passing Hall of Famer Clyde Drexler.
Lillard sank a foul shot with 1:33 left in the third quarter against the host Oklahoma City Thunder to push him past Drexler’s total of 18,040 points. The 11th-year guard entered the night needing 21 points to set the mark.
Damian Lillard is the @trailblazers all-time leading scorer!
Congrats, @Dame_Lillard! pic.twitter.com/s5B47X3JTQ
— NBA (@NBA) December 20, 2022
Portland Trail Blazers general manager Joe Cronin said in a statement, “Damian’s commitment to Portland is now encapsulated with this prestigious career milestone. His dedication, humility and hard work have been pillars for his path to this very moment. On behalf of the organization, we would like to congratulate Damian on this great achievement and look forward to many more.”
Lillard, a 32-year-old Oakland, Calif., native, has played all 730 of his NBA games for the Trail Blazers. Portland selected him sixth overall in the 2012 draft out of Weber State.
The six-time All-Star, who was selected to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team, was averaging 28.3 points per game this season before Monday, up from his career norm of 24.7.
Drexler spent 11 1/2 seasons with Portland, from 1983-84 to 1994-95. He averaged 20.8 points in 867 games for the Trail Blazers.