LeBron James Calls Damian Lillard the Rookie of the Year

The Miami Heat are in Portland to take on the Blazers tonight in a nationally-televised affair. According to LeBron James, Damian Lillard is the clear-cut favorite to win the NBA’s top rookie award. Per the Oregonian: “The game against the Heat starts the first of four grueling tests for the Blazers, whose next four opponents have a combined record of 91-45. Thursday’s game will be the second of a six-game road trip for Miami, which lost 87-77 in Indiana Tuesday. After a long, and physical practice Wednesday, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra talked about what he’s seen from this young Blazers team and what he likes about point guard Damian Lillard, while LeBron James dubbed Lillard the Rookie of the Year. ‘He’s never out of his comfort zone,’ James said of Lillard Wednesday. ‘He’s never too fast; he’s never too slow. He plays in his own lane.'”