true ios true ios true android false computer $upper($url_encode($(QUERY_STRING{'bypassCountry'}))) NONE $url_encode($(GEO{'country_code'})) $url_encode($(GEO{'country_code'})) $(bpc) true true false Lillard Ranked No. 24 on SI's Top 100 NBA Players of 2016 | NBA.com
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Lillard Ranked No. 24 on SI's Top 100 NBA Players of 2016

As Sports Illustrated continues to unveil its Top 100 NBA Players of 2016 this week, Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard makes his mark at the No. 24 position on Ben Golliver and Rob Mahoney's list. Lillard is the only Trail Blazer representative in the rankings this year as newcomer Mason Plumlee narrowly missed the cut. 

Coming in at No. 24, Lillard slipped two spots from last year's rankings. Golliver cites the weight of the Trail Blazers' success being solely on the two-time All-Star's shoulders in defense of the slight fall on the list: 

While the departures of LaMarcus Aldridge, Wesley Matthews, Nicolas Batum and Robin Lopez certainly paved the way for Lillard's new role as the face of the Trail Blazers franchise and the responsibility that comes with it, Golliver writes that if anyone can handle the pressure, it might be Lillard: 

Lillard enters his fourth season in Rip City on the heels of signing a five-year contract extension this offseason, carrying career averages of 20.2 points and 6.1 assists per game. Sports Illustrated continues its rankings on Thursday with the reveal of the NBA's top 10 players going into next season.