Damian Lillard is a professional basketball player for the Portland Trail Blazers in the United States. He’ll be joining the Milwaukee Bucks, the franchise announced Wednesday night. The Blazers selected him sixth overall in 2012. His first NBA contract, for $13 million, made him a billionaire almost immediately.
He rapidly established himself as one of the best players in NBA history, winning the NBA Rookie of the Year Award in 2012. Over the course of his career, he has been selected to six NBA All-Star games. He is one of only two Blazers players who have done so.
He signed a four-year, $176 million contract on June 30, 2019. He also agreed to a two-year, $122 million deal extension with the Blazers. According to reports, the agreement was one of the wealthiest in NBA history. At the time, he had already earned $191 million in his career, and it was reported that if he completed his deal, he would earn half a billion dollars in the NBA.
With earnings of $58.6 million, he was just ranked one of the world’s highest-paid athletes by Forbes. According to the business journal, his salary/winnings account for $42.6 million of this total, while endorsements account for $16 million. Adidas, AT&T, Gatorade, Moda Health, Oakley, Spalding, Tissot, and Toyota are among his endorsements.
Lillard is a musician as well. Under the rap moniker Dame D.O.L.L.A., he has released four studio albums. His song “Money Ball” was included in the “NBA 2K20” soundtrack. He is also a Special Olympics Global Ambassador.
Lillard was born in Oakland, California on July 15, 1990. During his high school years in San Lorenzo, California, his basketball prowess was found. He switched to a different high school in Alameda to acquire more playing time. He then transferred to another school after this one dropped him.
He would go on to become a successful player at his new school, averaging about 20 points each game. This had increased to 22.4 points per game by his final year.
He received a number of college offers after high school, but he eventually accepted a scholarship to play for Weber State in Utah. Despite missing many months due to a foot ailment, he finished his college career as a nominee for the Bob Cousy Award. He also skipped his senior year and went straight to the NBA draft in 2012.