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HOUSTON — Former Weber State All-american Damian Lillard had a busy but successful 2013 NBA All-Star Weekend. The No. 6 pick from last year’s NBA draft scored 18 points and added five assists in the Rising Stars Challenge on Friday night and won the Skills Challenge on Saturday night, racing through a course of dribble, passing and shooting obstacles in 29.8 seconds.
Lillard was selected to Team Shaq as the first pick of the Rising Stars Challenge draft between TNT analysts Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley. The Portland rookie sensation finished 7-for-17 from the field but just 2-of-10 from 3-point range as Team Chuck beat Team Shaq for the second straight year 163-135.
“It was a lot of fun. I felt like we came out really flat. Even though it's an All-Star game, they played a little bit of defense and we didn't play any,” Lillard said after the game. “I could have made a lot more shots. It's a freelance game. I missed some lay-ups, I missed a dunk I should have made, the ball came out of my hands, I missed shots.”
Lillard said being a rookie and first-time participant was a bit unnerving because of not know what to expect. However, he made note that he will be better prepared and relaxed at next year’s events.
“It was cool. In these type of games, it's hard to figure out how you're supposed to play,” Lillard said. “You don't want to be too cool, you don't want to be out there like it's a regular game. It was fun, just to be out there with some different players.”
By winning the Skills Challenge, Lillard joined an elite group of guards, including Jason Kidd, Steve Nash, Dwayne Wade, as former champions, and became only the second rookie to win the skill challenge in its 11-year history.
"I think the biggest thing for me was to try not to be too cool and speed through it," Lillard said, "but take my time with the passes and shots."
Most importantly for Lillard, his victory claimed a $25,000 college scholarship for 17-year-old Poppie Simmons from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston.
"I was honored to win this competition," Lillard said. "The bigger thing for me was the fact that I was able to get the scholarship money for him. I come from a tough situation. If it wasn't for sports, I probably wouldn't have been able to attend a college. It means a lot for me to be able to do that for him."
Lillard and the Blazers host the Phoenix Suns Tuesday to start the second half of the NBA season.
Andrew Devey is a BYU senior studying communications. You can follow him on Twitter @adevey or watch him following Fredette and Lillard's NBA season at bit.ly/JimmerLillard
