Damian Lillard

Damian Lillard is an NBA point guard for the Portland Trail Blazers. He has many accomplishments on the basketball court including the Rookie of the Year award and two All-Star appearances in his first three seasons, but those awards aren't the most important part of  Lillard's career. What makes him special is his journey to the NBA and what he has done since making it there. Coming out of high school, Lillard was only a 2 star recruit and nobody thought he had a chance to make it to the league. His abilities were criticized when he was drafted, but he has done nothing but prove people wrong. His perseverance is something that anyone can appreciate, and he has inspired many young athletes to believe in themselves.


In his first year in the NBA, Lillard won a "Community Assist Award" for his charity work. He was the key contributor to the Trail Blazers' "Respect, Pass It On" campaign that encouraged people to take a stand against bullying. In an interview, Lillard was quoted as saying, "Now that I’ve learned how many people look up to us as NBA players, I want to make the most of it by getting behind positive initiatives like anti-bullying" (Freeman, 2013). Lillard is also a Special Olympics Ambassador and has played in multiple charity games with Special Olympics players. He is part of their campaign "Spread the Word to End the Word." He understands the impact that he can make on the community and takes advantage of it.


Lillard has raised money for numerous charities and takes the time to give children and others memorable experiences while doing so. Last year he participated in an event at Lower Columbia College called Threes 4 Threes, where he donated money to three different charities. He also played basketball with some of the students there and gave them an experience that they will never forget. Another way Lillard gives back to fans is by using his own Instagram page to start a trend called #4BarFriday where he reposts his favorite freestyles from followers. His interaction with people shows how much he actually appreciates his fans and gives back to them.