For the majority of the year, the Portland Trail Blazers didn’t live up to the preseason expectations that were set for them however, they were able to sneak into the Western Conference playoffs with a 41-41 record. While their stay in the postseason didn’t last very long as they were swept in the first round by the Golden State Warriors, them finding a way to make the playoffs and the midseason addition of stud big man Jusuf Nurkic should provide some optimism for the upcoming campaign.
Not only that, but star point guard Damian Lillard enjoyed another stellar season and on Tuesday, the Weber State product earned some hardware to prove it.
Lillard was awarded the 2016-17 Magic Johnson award which is handed out annually by the Professional Basketball Writers Association (PBWA) to honor a player’s respectful attitude towards the media and the press. Following from the official PBWA release:
Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers has won the 2016-17 Magic Johnson Award, which honors the player who best combines excellence on the basketball court with cooperation and dignity in dealing with the media and the public, the Professional Basketball Writers Association announced today…
Off the court, Lillard fostered an atmosphere of mutual respect with the media.
DeMar DeRozan of the Toronto Raptors, Paul George of the Indiana Pacers, Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors and Paul Millsap of the Atlanta Hawks also were finalists for the award.
Members of the Professional Basketball Writers Association selected the winner through a vote.
The PBWA created the Magic Johnson Award in 2001. The association’s members continue to regard Earvin “Magic” Johnson of the Los Angeles Lakers as the ideal model for the award.
While Lillard’s on court performance boasted per game averages of 27 points to go along with 5.9 assists and 4.9 rebounds, the Magic Johnson award commemorates him for the character he showed off the court. Lillard winning the award this season should come as no surprise as the guard finished as a runner-up to Pau Gasol and Stephen Curry the past two years.
