You've heard it all summer and throughout preseason thus far: The spotlight in Rip City is solely on point guard Damian Lillard as he takes on the role of the Trail Blazers' franchise player following the departures of four starters from last season and a new maximum contract extension signed in July.
But how did Lillard get to this point in just his fourth year as a pro? SB Nation's Paul Flannery goes in-depth in a profile of Lillard's rise in Portland, covering all angles from the point guard's Oakland roots to his role as a Special Olympics ambassador.