Kentucky's DJ Wagner works out with Damian Lillard

Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard has scored 19,376 total points over the course of his 11-year career, an average of 25.2 per contest. Seven All-Star appearances, seven All-NBA selections. Undoubtedly one of the best offensive players in league history.

And Kentucky freshman DJ Wagner is training with him.

The five-star guard worked out with the NBA superstar at his private gym in Portland, Wagner’s trainer and former coach Ernest McGill shared on social media.

Lillard passed on some of his offensive knowledge to the Wildcat freshman, working on weight distribution, balance and space with shot creation, then some lighthearted shadowboxing.

“Iron sharpens iron,” McGill wrote.

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Wagner previously participated in the Nike Academy just outside of Portland back in August, a skills camp featuring some of the top NBA prospects in the upcoming years among high school and college standouts. He was joined by fellow Wildcat freshman Rob Dillingham.

Both players impressed, Wagner specifically with his burst, handle and passing.

Kentucky's DJ Wagner showed off his handle, burst, budding shot-making and live-dribble passing at Nike Academy this week. pic.twitter.com/SK87xyYzBN

— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) August 11, 2023

Wagner closed as the No. 6 overall prospect and No. 1 combo guard in the final 2023 On3 Player Rankings. He joined the likes of Justin Edwards (No. 4), Aaron Bradshaw (No. 5), Dillingham (No. 26), Reed Sheppard (No. 27), Jordan Burks (No. 104), Joey Hart and Zvonimir Ivisic in Kentucky’s top-ranked recruiting class.

What is Kentucky getting in DJ Wagner?

“He’s got the same fight that his dad had, the same desire to win,” Calipari said of Wagner during Kentucky’s trip to Toronto for the 2023 GLOBL JAM. “DJ is terrific. He can shoot it, he’s strong, he’s physical and he can get to the rim. And I’ll tell you what else he does: he fights screens.”

Wagner finished fourth on the team in scoring across four wins in the prestigious event, averaging 14.0 points per contest on 42.1% shooting and 33.3% from three while adding 4.8 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 30.3 minutes per game. It was a strong all-around effort, the freshman guard showing off his abilities as an attacker, initiator and finisher. An ultimate competitor, he took immediate command of the offense.

Now he’s going to be showing off those talents and traits inside Rupp Arena with live game action right around the corner. Practice starts for the Wildcats next week, followed by Media Day, then Big Blue Madness on October 13 — just 22 days away. After a few to-be-determined exhibition matchups, the regular season opener will then take place Monday, November 6 vs. New Mexico State.

Basketball season is right around the corner.