LAKE BUENA VISTA, Florida – Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard was unanimously voted the most valuable player on the seeding games portion of the NBA’s attempt to restart his season inside the NBA bubble at Walt Disney World Resort.
Lillard, who led all players into the bubble with an average of 37.6 points per game in eight leading games, led Portland to a 6-2 record and eighth-seeded in the first play-in tournament of the year. league, which the Blazers start Saturday against the Memphis Grizzlies, ninth-seeded.
Lillard, who also averaged 9.6 assists, has scored 51, 61 and 42 points in Portland’s last three games to lead the Blazers into seed matches, and as a result has clearly placed himself above the contenders’ field for the maximum acknowledgments within the bubble.
He was followed in the voting by guard Devin Booker, who led the Phoenix Suns to a perfect 8-0 record inside the bubble, and Indiana Pacers striker TJ Warren, who scored 53 points in his opening game. against the Philadelphia 76ers and averaged 31 points. in the eight seeding games.
Suns manager Monty Williams was the near-unanimous choice for the league’s best coach within the bubble, with Portland’s Terry Stotts taking the only other vote for first place.
Lillard, Booker, and Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic were both unanimously named to the All-Bubble first team, while Houston Rockets guard James Harden and Warren received 18 first-team votes to claim the other two spots.
The second team consisted of reigning NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, LA Clippers star Kawhi Leonard, Dallas Mavericks center Kristaps Porzingis, Brooklyn Nets guard Caris LeVert, and Denver Nuggets rookie Michael Porter Jr.
The eight games of seed did not count towards the traditional NBA season prizes. The winners of these awards will be announced by the NBA during the playoffs, which officially begin on Monday.
.
