Guard’s bond with NBA star
NBA superstar Damian Lillard has always had Tim Quarterman’s back.
American guard Quarterman is lighting up the National Basketball League for the last-placed Supercity Rangers, leading the league in scoring at 29.5 points per game.
Quarterman was named NBL player of the week for the last round, pouring in 39 and 32 points in the Auckland-based Rangers’ road losses to Nelson and Southland.
The 24-year-old had a brief stint in the NBA, playing 18 games with Lillard’s Portland Trail Blazers in the 2016-17 season. After being traded by the Blazers, he was a team-mate of reigning NBA MVP James Harden, appearing in three games for the Houston Rockets in 2018.
Point guard Lillard, a four-time All Star, was a huge influence on Quarterman, who earned the 15th and final roster spot on the Blazers.
The pair developed a bond with Lillard (Oakland) and Quarterman (Savannah, Georgia) escaping the crime in their hometowns to make it in basketball.
Both play with a chip on their shoulder with Lillard, who played college ball at unglamorous Weber State, not being heavily recruited out of high school. Quarterman wasn’t selected in the 2016 NBA Draft and broke into the league the hard way.
Lillard stuck up for Quarterman when the Blazers traded him to Houston for cash considerations and poked fun. Portland posted an image on Twitter of a bag of money holding a press conference. An unhappy Lillard called team president Chris McGowan saying it was inappropriate.
‘‘Dame is like a big brother to me. We still talk most days. He still guides me as a big brother should,’’ Quarterman told Stuff.
‘‘Our relationship is very close and it hasn’t changed since I left. I’m just thankful to him and all his guidance and knowledge he’s given me throughout the years.’’
Quarterman reflected fondly on his 21-game tenure in the NBA. His debut came in November 2016 at Los Angeles’ Staples Centre against the Clippers, who then featured Chris Paul and Blake Griffin.
Portland were blown out 111-80, but Quarterman nailed both of his field goal attempts, registering four points in six minutes.
‘‘I got out there and hit my first shot and then I hit another shot, so it was a special moment for my mom and my family to accomplish something that big and just trying to take it all in at once. It was a big night for me.’’
Quarterman was fortunate enough to get on court in two of the Blazers’ Western Conference first round finals games against the eventual champion Warriors that season, where they were outclassed 4-0.
Competing in the Kiwi NBL, his second time in an overseas league after a short stay in Israel, Quarterman has piled up the points for a young Rangers side, who have won just two of 13 games.
He has scored 30 or more points in seven of his past nine games, erupting for an NBL season-best 48 against Hawke’s Bay.
Quarterman was reluctant to talk about where he might sign his next contract, but it’s understood his hot play is drawing interest from Australian NBL teams.
Having had a small taste of the NBA, he remained hungry for a second shot and hadn’t given up on that dream.
‘‘The ultimate goal is to get back in the NBA. That’s the greatest basketball league, so that’s the ultimate goal.
‘‘If the opportunity presents itself, I surely would take it. For now, it’s making the right steps forward and taking advantage of every opportunity that comes next.’’