Blazers G Damian Lillard Named Western Conference Rookie Of The Month For January

The NBA announced Friday that Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard was named Western Conference Rookie of the Month for January 2013.

Lillard also won Rookie of the Month honors in October/November 2012 (here) and December 2012 (here).

The NBA's release...

The Washington Wizards' Bradley Beal and the Portland Trail Blazers' Damian Lillard today were named the Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Rookies of the Month, respectively, for games played in January.

Lillard, who wins his third consecutive Kia Rookie of the Month award, led all rookies in scoring (17.7 ppg), assists (6.8 apg) and minutes (39.6 mpg). Among all NBA players this season, Lillard ranks 19th in scoring (18.1 ppg), 13th in assists (6.5 apg) and seventh in three-pointers made (102). Lillard recorded his eighth game this season of 20-plus points and eight-plus assists on Jan. 23 during a 100-80 victory over the Indiana Pacers.

Highlights:

• Jan. 11 @ Golden State: Made seven three-pointers en route to a career-high 37 points during a 103-97 loss to the Warriors.
• Jan. 19 vs. Milwaukee: Tallied 26 points and 10 assists during a 110-104 loss to the Bucks.
• Jan. 23 vs. Indiana: Posted 20 points and eight assists as the Trail Blazers upended the Pacers 100-80.

Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Rookies of the Month were Cleveland's Dion Waiters and Tyler Zeller, Detroit's Andre Drummond and New Orleans' Anthony Davis.

More from the Blazers...

Lillard, 22, paced all rookies with 17.7 points, 6.8 assists, 39.5 minutes and 35 3-pointers made to go with 3.4 rebounds and 1.06 steals for the month.

The 6-foot-3 point guard has now earned Kia NBA Western Conference Rookie of the Month honors in all three months of the season. He joins Brandon Roy (January, February and March 2007) as the only Trail Blazers in franchise history to win the award three times.

Lillard tallied a career-high 37 points Jan. 11 at Golden State, going 7-for-12 from 3-point range to become just the fourth rookie in NBA history to count 37 points and seven 3-pointers in a game.

His eight games of 20 points and eight assists rank seventh among NBA players this season.

The Weber State product holds season averages of 18.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, a team-high 6.5 assists and 1.04 steals in 38.4 minutes. Portland selected him with the sixth overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft.

Kia, a proud partner of the Portland Trail Blazers, will present Lillard with the Kia NBA Western Conference Rookie of the Month award later this month.

-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter