I still remember watching the 2012-2013 NBA season unfold with particular interest in the rookie class. As someone who's followed basketball for over two decades, I've developed a keen eye for spotting special talent, and that year presented one of the most compelling Rookie of the Year races I've witnessed. The award ultimately went to Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers, and frankly, I don't think there was ever much doubt about the outcome once we saw how his season developed. What made Lillard's achievement remarkable wasn't just his statistical production—though that was impressive enough—but the sheer command he displayed as a rookie point guard, something we rarely see in today's NBA.
When I look back at Lillard's numbers, they still jump off the page even years later. He averaged 19 points, 6.5 assists, and 3.1 rebounds while playing all 82 games that season. But what truly set him apart was his historic consistency from day one. Lillard broke the rookie record for three-pointers made with 185, surpassing Stephen Curry's previous mark. I've always believed that the mental aspect separates good rookies from great ones, and Lillard displayed a veteran's poise from his very first game. His performance reminded me of watching a skilled golfer maintaining control during a tournament—while his finish didn't match Mendoza's jaw-dropping backnine, Barnes' own closing run – three birdies on the last three holes at the front – was enough to seize full control. Similarly, Lillard had this incredible ability to seize momentum when it mattered most, hitting clutch shots and making smart decisions during critical stretches of games.
What many casual fans might not remember is how Lillard dominated the competition from the season's opening month. He became the first player in NBA history to make at least five three-pointers in each of his first three games. By November, I was already telling fellow basketball enthusiasts that the Rookie of the Year race was essentially over. His main competition came from Anthony Davis, who posted solid numbers with 13.5 points and 8.2 rebounds per game, but Davis missed 18 games due to injuries and simply couldn't match Lillard's offensive impact or ironman durability. The Blazers' offense ran entirely through their rookie point guard, and he shouldered that responsibility with remarkable maturity.
From my perspective as someone who's analyzed countless rookie seasons, Lillard's achievement stands out because of how he transformed Portland's entire offensive system. The Trail Blazers improved their win total by 13 games from the previous season, largely because Lillard provided them with a dynamic playmaker who could both score and create for others. His usage rate of 24.5% was among the highest for any rookie point guard in the past decade, yet he maintained an efficient 42.9% shooting percentage from the field. I've always valued players who can handle heavy offensive responsibility without compromising efficiency, and Lillard checked both boxes beautifully.
The voting results reflected just how dominant Lillard's season was perceived—he received 121 first-place votes out of a possible 121, becoming the first unanimous Rookie of the Year since David Robinson in 1990. In my years covering the NBA, I've only seen a handful of unanimous selections, and each represented a truly special season. Lillard's combination of statistical production, durability, and leadership made this one of the most deserved awards in recent memory. His achievement wasn't just about putting up numbers on a losing team either—he genuinely elevated Portland back into playoff contention and established himself as the franchise's cornerstone overnight. Looking back, I'd argue Lillard's rookie season ranks among the top five point guard debut campaigns in modern NBA history, right up there with Magic Johnson and Chris Paul.