While fans of the Trail Blazers developed a healthy admiration for Damian Lillard almost immediately after the 6-3 guard was selected with the sixth overall pick of the 2012 NBA Draft, it's taken a bit more time for him to earn the respect his skills warrant from a national perspective. That's not to say he wasn't appreciated early in his career -- after all, he was a unanimous selection for Rookie of the Year and was named All-NBA Third Team after his sophomore season -- but for a while, there seemed to be some skepticism regarding his status among the elite in the NBA.
With Another All-NBA Honor, Lillard's Status Among The Elite Is No Longer In Question
