The Portland Trail Blazers have been one of the most competitive Western Conference teams of the last decade. Ever since they drafted Damian Lillard in 2012, the Blazers have seen some variation of a very talented core try and lead the team into the playoffs. That didn’t happen last season, as a Lillard injury early in the season meant the Blazers tanked and were rewarded with the 7th pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.
The Blazers picked high-potential youngster Shaedon Sharpe, who could feature in the backcourt of the future alongside Anfernee Simons. Right now, he is a rookie that has a lot to learn, especially from a player of the second-leading Blazers scorer all-time caliber. Lillard himself has endorsed Sharpe by saying that Sharpe is way more talented than him at the age of 19.
https://twitter.com/highkin/status/1577017201424760832
Lillard rose through the world of basketball at a much slower pace than modern prospects. He was drafted into the NBA at age 22, seasoning himself fully in college before coming to the league and winning Rookie of the Year in his first season. He has gone from strength to strength and will eventually retire as a Blazers legend.
Can Shaedon Sharpe Learn From Lillard?
Shaedon Sharpe has a lot of natural scoring ability that will make him an extremely useful NBA player. However, as young offensive threats often struggle as rookies to consistently make shots, Lillard will be crucial in keeping Sharpe’s shot selection disciplined and honest.
Dame is one of the most audacious shooters in the league, so Sharpe won’t learn just to take the right shots but also the unlikely bombs that might have a big impact. There is a level of trust a player needs to earn before they can attempt half-court shots without consequences.
Sharpe has a different skill-set to Lillard’s, but he can’t pass up the chance of not learning from a student of the game like Lillard. Hopefully, the pair can form a strong partnership that bodes well for the future of both players and the team as a whole.
