The NBA announced Friday that Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard was named Western Conference Rookie of the Month for March 2013.

Lillard also won Rookie of the Month honors in October/November 2012 (here), December 2012 (here), January 2013 (here) and February 2013 (here). He becomes the first Blazers player to win the award in five consecutive months.

Lillard, winner of his fifth consecutive Kia Rookie of the Month award, led all rookies in scoring (21.3 ppg), assists (6.8 apg), field goals (119), three-pointers (42) and free throws (61). In March, he became one of only four rookies in league history to record 1,390 points and 475 assists. Lillard also tied the all-time NBA rookie record for three-pointers in a season with 166. Month Highlights March 8 @ San Antonio: Had 35 points, nine assists, three rebounds and two steals in a 136-106 victory over the Spurs.

March 14 vs. New York: Posted 26 points and 10 assists during a 105-90 win over the Knicks.

March 21 @ Chicago: Posted 24 points, four rebounds and seven assists in a 99-89 victory over the Bulls.

Here's the release from the Blazers.

Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard was named Kia NBA Western Conference Rookie of the Month for March, it was announced today by the NBA.



Lillard, 22, paced all rookies with 21.3 points, 6.8 assists, 119 field goals, 42 3-pointers and 61 free throws made to go with 2.9 rebounds for the month. His 21.3 points per game in March marked a season high.



The 6-foot-3 point guard has now earned Kia NBA Western Conference Rookie of the Month honors in all five months of the season, becoming the first player in franchise history to win the award at least four times, and the first NBA player to sweep the award for the first five months of the season since Blake Griffin in 2010-11.



Lillard became one of four rookies in NBA history last month to record at least 1390 points and 475 assists in a season, joining Oscar Robertson, Michael Jordan and Allen Iverson. On March 8 at San Antonio, he became the first rookie to record 35 points and nine assists without a turnover since turnovers became a stat in 1978-79. On March 31, Lillard tied the NBA rookie record for 3-pointers made in a season with 166 (Stephen Curry), a number he has since broken. The Weber State product holds season averages of 19.0 points, 3.2 rebounds and a team-high 6.5 assists in 38.5 minutes. Portland selected him with the sixth overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. Toronto's Jonas Valanciunas earned Kia NBA Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month honors.

-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter