Damian Lillard got a look at two versions of the 2019-20 Brooklyn Nets this year — Kenny Atkinson’s team with a healthy Kyrie Irving and Jacque Vaugh’s depleted Disney bubble roster.
And while Lillard’s Trail Blazers put together an impressive run during seeding play, the Nets were just as impressive and almost managed to end Portland’s 2020 NBA Playoffs dreams.
Brooklyn’s run in the bubble was in large part thanks to Caris LeVert’s play. He averaged 25 points, 6.7 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 48% from the floor over six seeding contests, earning NBA All-Seeding Games Second Team honors.
Against Portland, LeVert scored his bubble-high 37 points while logging nine assists, six boards, two steals and a blocked shot in Brooklyn’s 134-133 loss.
Clearly, that left a lasting impression on Lillard. Because when he was asked early Friday morning during a Twitter Q&A session which NBA player will make a leap next season, Lillard answered:
Ima go with Caris LeVert of Lonzo Ball[.]