Blazers guard Rookie of Year

PORTLAND, Ore. - Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard has been unanimously chosen the NBA’s Rookie of the Year.

Lillard, the sixth overall pick in last June’s draft out of Weber State, led all rookies with a 19-point scoring average. He also averaged 6.1 assists and 3.1 rebounds, playing in all 82 games this season.

Lillard broke Stephen Curry’s rookie record for three-pointers in a season, finishing with 185. He is the fourth player in league history to win the Eddie Gottlieb Trophy unanimously, joining Blake Griffin in 2011, David Robinson in 1990 and Ralph Sampson in 1984.

“I think the best thing for me is to take it all in,” he said. “Then tomorrow I’ve got to let it go. I’ve got my whole career in front of me.”

Lillard pretty much was a lock for the award after he swept all six rookie of the month awards this season. He is eighth player to win in every month of the season since the award was created in 1981-1982.

“I kind of figured I was ahead,” Lillard said about the race for the honor. “But I didn’t think I had it locked up.”

Sports, Pages 22 on 05/02/2013

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