TUALATIN, Ore. — When the reserves were announced for the Western Conference All-Stars on Thursday afternoon, Damian Lillard’s name was not called.
Luckily, Lillard has been through this dance enough to know what to expect.
He said after Thursday’s practice, as he’s said multiple times, that he would be honored to go to the All-Star game.
But unlike last year when he was initially left off and said it was “disrespect,” he won’t take it too hard this time around.
“If I make it I will be really happy. If I don’t, life goes on,” he said Thursday before the announcement was made on TNT. “I think I’ve had a really good season individually. I think our team has grown a lot. We’ve made strides over the course of the season. We wanted to grow, make things better and we’ve done that.”
Lillard said that he prefers to know the news when everyone else does but said that if he isn’t named, it won’t irk him as much as it did last year.
If it did bother Lillard, nobody would blame him.
He’s averaging a career-high 24.3 points per game and 7.1 assists while maintaining his effective field goal percentage around 50 percent while using more possessions than he ever has.
His scoring efficiency has withstood the increased volume and his turnovers have jumped slightly, but not enough to where it has taken away from his effectiveness.
Lillard’s presence as the team’s vocal leader on and off the court has also added value.
What isn’t showing up on the stat sheet in his best season as a pro are invaluable moments.
It can be recognizing the Kings would be tired and forcing the Blazers to run more than normal in order to get a win.
Or it can be in telling 20-year old Noah Vonleh to be confident in his abilities.
“Damian was the one that always tells me to shoot,” Vonleh said. “He says ‘your whole game can open up. You can drive and do so many other things. If you don’t shoot, they’ll play off you and make things tougher for the team.'”
The Blazers are 21-26 through 47 games, surprising many by currently being the 8th seed in the Western Conference.
And All-Star recognition by the coaches or not, Lillard is deserving of the title.
“There may not be enough spots,” Sacramento Kings head coach George Karl lamented when asked about Lillard’s candidacy before saying that he thinks the NBA should reward 15 players.
Players who made it over him on better teams, like former teammate LaMarcus Aldridge, shouldn’t come as a surprise given that without Aldridge, the team with a 39-7 record would only have one All-Star.
Anthony Davis’ case is shakier, given that he’s put up gaudy numbers on a 16-28 Pelicans team.
But those are the breaks of the All-Star game and by now, Lillard no longer has any illusions about how the game goes.
ALL-STAR GAME ROSTERS
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Starters
Kobe Bryant (Lakers) F-G
Kevin Durant (Thunder) F
Kawhi Leonard (Spurs) F
Stephen Curry (Warriors) G
Russell Westbrook (Thunder) G
Reserves
Draymond Green (Warriors) F
James Harden (Rockets) G
Chris Paul (Clippers) G
Klay Thompson (Warriors) G
Anthony Davis (Pelicans) F-C
DeMarcus Cousins (Kings) C-F
LaMarcus Aldridge (Spurs) F
Head Coach: Gregg Popovich (Spurs)
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Starters
LeBron James (Cavaliers) F
Paul George (Pacers) F
Carmelo Anthony (Knicks) F
Dwyane Wade (Heat) G
Kyle Lowry (Raptors) G
Reserves
Jimmy Butler (Bulls) G-F
DeMar DeRozan (Raptors) G
Paul Millsap (Hawks) F
Andre Drummond (Pistons) C
Chris Bosh (Heat) F
John Wall (Wizards) G
Isaiah Thomas (Celtics) G
Head Coach: Tyronn Lue (Cavaliers)
