He got buckets. Anthony arrived on the pro basketball scene as a fully formed 20-point scorer and has never slipped below that mark in any season. His career scoring average is just a shade under 25 points per game, and this season should mark the fifth time that Anthony finishes the season in the NBA’s top four in scoring average. He’s in a special class of prolific scorers, and few are as masterful in turning difficult situations into improbable points.
When Anthony Davis went down, Damian Lillard stepped on to the throne. The Portland Trail Blazers point guard has spent most of the season as the heavy favorite to take rookie of the year honors. Lillard should make it 5-for-5 in rookie of the month awards in a few days, once march is through. He started right away, picked up huge minutes and made his impact.
The impact has shown in the NBA power rankings, where Lillard has led for all but one week in our rookie race.
This week was no different, with Lillard taking five of six first-place votes. It makes sense; Lillard averages 18.3 points and 6.5 assists in 38.4 minutes a game. No other rookie averages 15 points, five assists or 32 minutes.
A few members of our power rankings panel shared some insight on what it would take for another rookie to overtake Lillard and who that rookie might be, with most looking at Davis, the No. 1 draft pick for the New Orleans Hornets, who averages 12.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in 28.9 minutes a game.
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