Damian Lillard Earns NBA Teammate Of The Year Award

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Portland Trail Blazers superstar and former Weber State product Damian Lillard has been named the Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year by his fellow NBA players.

The award recognizes Lillard’s selfless play, leadership on and off the floor, mentorship towards other NBA players, and commitment and dedication to his team.

Lillard has spent all nine seasons of his NBA career in Portland. The Trail Blazers selected Lillard out of Weber State with the sixth pick in the first round, where the guard has built a Hall of Fame resume being named to six All-Star games and five All-NBA teams.

NBA players have selected Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard as the recipient of the 2020-21 Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award.

More ➡️ https://t.co/exBr4n703A pic.twitter.com/1Lbvrtk9cU

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) June 3, 2021

This season Lillard averaged 28.8 points, 7.5 assists, and 4.2 rebounds while leading the Trail Blazers to the sixth seed in the Western Conference Playoffs.

Lillard has also been a mainstay in the Portland community, regularly appearing at public events in the city.

After missing the playoffs in his rookie season, Lillard has led the Trail Blazers to eight consecutive postseason appearances, including a trip to the Western Conference Finals in 2019.

Other nominees included Indiana Pacers guard Malcolm Brogdon, Brooklyn Nets forward Joe Harris, Philadelphia 76ers forward Tobias Harris, Miami Heat forward Udonis Haslem, Utah Jazz forward Joe Ingles, Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry, Dallas Mavericks center Boban Marjanović, Denver Nuggets forward Paul Millsap, Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul, New York Knicks guard Theo Pinson and Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns.

Joe Ingles was voted the 10th best teammate by his fellow NBA players this season. pic.twitter.com/cQTefxZUda

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) June 3, 2021

Lillard barely edged out Suns guard Chris Paul for the award, earning 1,012 total points to Paul’s 1,001.

Players were awarded 10 points for each first-place vote, seven points for each second-place vote, five points for each third-place vote, three points for each fourth-place vote, and one point for each fifth-place vote according to the NBA.

Before Lillard, recent Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year award winners include Milwaukee Bucks guard Jrue Holiday, Jazz guard Mike Conley, and the now-retired Jamal Crawford.