Milwaukee Bucks Star Damian Lillard Deemed Favorite for Major NBA Award for 2023-24

Nov 6, 2023; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) sets the play against the Brooklyn Nets during the fourth quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-USA TODAY Sports

Damian Lillard has been on quite a tear for the Milwaukee Bucks of late. After a rather slow start to his tenure, the seven-time All-Star got his groove back and has looked as dangerous as ever.

So much so, that Dame is now considered by the oddsmakers as the heavy favorite to win one of the NBA’s major individual awards of the season.

Milwaukee Bucks’ Damian Lillard Frontrunner for Clutch Player of the Year

Nov 22, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) dribbles down the court during the second half against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports

Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report recently went through the emerging list of candidates for the league’s major awards this season. While it may be too early, it’s also true that some stars have already started establishing themselves as the firm favorites to win their respective awards.

Bucks fans will be glad to know that Lillard, aka Dame Time, has been deemed a front-runner for the Most Clutch Player of the Year award. Buckley sheds some light as to why Dame has been given +270 odds to bag the trophy:

“He’s been outrageously effective in late-game situations, even by his lofty standards. His 65 clutch points are 14 more than anyone else has tallied and the same number supplied by the rest of this Milwaukee roster combined. Lillard has posted a pristine 51.7/43.8/96.6 slash line with six assists and no turnovers in clutch situations (the final five minutes of any game with a scoring margin of five points or less),” Buckley wrote.

Nov 22, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) drives to the basket defended by Boston Celtics center Al Horford (42) during the second half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports

According to Buckley, we should all buy-in on the hype — and he has the numbers to prove it:

“Verdict: Buy. Lillard’s numbers speak for themselves, but in case you need them to speak louder, here’s another: Milwaukee was 13th in clutch net rating last season at plus-2.8; now, it’s easily first at plus-39.6,” Buckley wrote.

Wisconsin Native Seen as Darkhorse

Nov 9, 2023; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) dribbles the ball while Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) defends in the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

If there’s one player who could steal away the Clutch Player of the Year title from Dame, it would be Oshkosh, Wisconsin native and Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton. The 23-year-old appears to have taken his game to another level this season, which includes his ability to step it up in the clutch:

“If Haliburton even looks at the basket late in a game, he’s getting a bucket. His clutch shooting is just shy of perfection so far, as he’s netted 12-of-16 field goals, 5-of-6 three-pointers and all 10 of his free throws. He’s also dished out a league-leading 11 clutch assists,” Buckley wrote.

Haliburton is good, but he probably isn’t going to be good enough to take the title away from Lillard.