This man is ice cold.
During his Portland Trail Blazers’ 134-124 victory against the Utah Jazz on Jan. 25, guard Damian Lillard had an absolutely incredible 60-point game along with some of the best efficiency the NBA has ever seen.
To get to the 60-point milestone, Lillard only needed 29 shot attempts and 10 free throw attempts, which puts him in some very elite company. Just two other players have accomplished this feat with lower shot attempts: Karl Malone with a 26-shot tally in 1990 and James Harden with 24 in 2019. Both, however, had more shots at the free throw line with 23 apiece.
On the flip side, only one player has managed to score 60 points with less than 10 attempts at the free throw line — that was Rick Berry with five in 1974. Due to limited chances, Lillard put up the highest true shooting percentage (measured by combined efficiency of shot attempts and free throws) ever in a 60-point game, hitting 89.8% of his shots.
DAMIAN. LILLARD.
60 points
7 rebounds
8 assists
9 threes
21/29 FG (72.4%) pic.twitter.com/NoTJstv2XG— NBA (@NBA) January 26, 2023
Damian Lillard also joins this elite company with his ice cold performance:
Damian Lillard is in ELITE company 📈 pic.twitter.com/3SGVTKHVoA
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) January 26, 2023
As you guys may know, I’m a huge fan of Dan LeBatard and his podcast (and this includes the hilarious staff). Well, I remember a few years ago when Damian Lillard came on the show, and their producer Mike Ryan was going on and on about how he was ice cold.
Fast forward to now, and that segment aged well with flying colors. Dame really is ice cold.
My only thing with Lillard is that I wish he played for a better team in a bigger metro. I understand he’s happy in Portland and I admire the loyalty that he has to the city and franchise, but man, just imagine this guy on a brand like my Miami Heat, or the Los Angeles Lakers with LeBron James, or the New York Knicks with what they have going on right now. That ice cold talent of his would pop the hell off with a franchise and city like that. (RELATED: 76ers’ Joel Embiid Makes Wild Gesture During Celebration. Nets’ Kevin Durant Talks Trash From Home)
Just look at the hype around him now — it would be so much bigger in Miami or Los Angeles, or New York.
I’m just sayin’, Dame. MIAMI!
Plus, this man deserves a championship ring to go along with his hype and marketability.
Come on down to South Beach, Damian. We’ll take care of you.