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Damian Lillard humbly believes he’s greatest Trail Blazer of all time. What do you think? Is he?



Damian Lillard humbly believes he’s greatest Trail Blazer of all time. What do you think? Is he?

by ono_grindz

34 Comments

  1. ono_grindz

    I think it’s between him and Clyde and it’s very very close. Clyde has the slightly better resume at this point because of his defensive prowess and having played for stronger teams that made the playoffs more often and the Finals twice. I still think Dame has the slight edge as best of all time and has plenty of time to further pad his resume.

  2. ChaossssValo

    Portland Trailblazers co-owner Damian Lillard

  3. RunninOnMT

    Yes. Yes I do.

    Between the leadership, the numbers and the love for the city, I think he takes it. I don’t think you’re crazy for disagreeing with me though.

  4. uncleprankgonesexual

    In other words the sky is blue.

  5. Nintinhdo

    center Sam Bowie second overall, entered the chat

  6. 1850ChoochGator

    Yes because Clyde thinks of himself as a Rocket and Bill Walton didn’t have the longevity + the horrible split with us. I think if Dame were to win a ring not on Portland, he would *still* be a Blazer first. Drexler, at best, probably thinks of himself at 50:50.

    ETA: Dame *should* be passing him in WS (with Portland obv) next season. The team success in the playoffs isn’t there but Drexler also had much better teams around him.

    As individuals, Dame should be ahead of him by the time his career as a Blazer is over, whenever that may be.

  7. PrimalGenius

    Dame can talk loyalty how ever much he wants but has dame come back to the blazers time after time?

    Steve Blake is the only correct answer

  8. Rawesome16

    Fuck yes he is

    We use to say our was Clyde because he had the scoring. Dame has scored more, means more to Portland, and is the better leader. Oh and is loyal AF

  9. ThisDerpForSale

    It’s close with Clyde, but I do think Dame has managed to pass him. If Dame makes a finals with the Blazers, then there’s no question.

  10. tomasybella

    WTH with this question anymore? Isn’t this pretty much common knowledge at this point?

    Now if he left, people might start asking questions. But that’s how it goes.

  11. JPD050409

    If his career ended today yes. People want to bring in Clydes playoff resume into discusssion but thats using a team accomplishment in player vs player discussion. Almost the entire starting line up and rotation were all all stars all within the prime athletic windows of their career. Until you see Dame with a roster like that and fail, you shouldnt be using that as an argument

  12. tcs_hearts

    Yes.

    When all is said and done, he will hold basically every franchise record a guard can.

    Other contenders:

    Walton: Longevity.

    Drexler: Has abandoned Portland and Dame is coming for or got most of his records. Playoff success is there, but it’s hard to say the lack of playoff success is Dames fault.

    Porter: Never the best player on his team.

    Roy: Longevity.

    Aldridge: The horrible situation with him leaving and he just doesn’t have the consistent numbers.

    McCollum: Never the best player on his team.

    Honestly, if Roy hadn’t gotten hurt I think he’d give Dame a run for his money the most.

    And now I wish we could have seem a Lillard/Roy backcourt.

  13. idk it’s close.. but big red fucked around and won a championship

  14. tylerxc19

    It’s between him and Chris Kaman but I think Dame has a slight edge

  15. canyoudiggitman

    I personally feel Bill Schonely is the greatest Trailblazer of all time, but if we are only talking players, IT’S DAME TIME and it’s silly this is even being debated!

  16. fasttalkerslowwalker

    If the question is, “who showed the most individual greatness while wearing a Blazers jersey?” then Dame is clearly the GBOAT. But if the question is, “who is the greatest player to ever wear a Blazers jersey?” then I think there’s another name that should at least be mentioned in the conversation, though I think it still comes down to Dame and Clyde: Sabonis.

    By the time he came to Portland, his best days were well behind him, but we still got to watch a basically immobile big man dazzle us pinpoint passing, a deadly hook shot, and next level basketball IQ and court awareness. Quoth Bill Walton, “He could do everything. He had the skills of Larry Bird and Pete Maravich. He had the athleticism of Kareem and he could shoot the 3-point shot. He could pass, run the floor, dribble.” He was probably the best player on three Olympic medaling teams.

    Bonus points for being so loyal to Portland that he said if he was ever traded, he’d just retire, and for being part of the last Blazers team that had a real shot at a ring (before the playoff implosion that shall not be discussed).

  17. EdgarBeansBurroughs

    I don’t think Lillard is yet. He could overtake Clyde but in my opinion he has to get the Blazers to the NBA Finals at least once. Clyde left after 12 years. Lillard is in his 11th season so their tenures are as comparable as they’ll ever be.

    Lillard’s career stats are 25 pts, 6.7 assists, 4.2 rebounds. And of course he has RANGE.

    Those are better, somewhat, than Clyde’s career averages of 20.4 ppg, 5.6 assists, 6.1 rebounds. Presumably Lillard’s stats may taper off at the end of his career. Obviously the caveat of different eras is worth considering here.

    Clyde was an All-Star 10 times, a Dream Teamer and named one of the 50 Best Players in NBA History. Lillard is a 7 time All-Star, 3 point champion, Olympian, and one of the best 75 players. That’s pretty much a wash.

    But Clyde led the Blazers to the NBA Finals twice, falling short only to the Bad Boys and MJ. He also still holds NBA records for most steals in a half (8) and most offensive rebounds for a guard (career). He also had 13 steals in a playoff game! He was also a much better defender than Lillard, which does matter.

    So, in my opinion, Clyde had the individual and the team success to still be the number one Blazer. Lillard has a chance to catch up with him, but as Brandon Roy reminds us, the future is uncertain.

  18. gerrard_1987

    Spiritually and in terms of community involvement, Lillard’s the greatest Blazer of all time. Clyde was the better overall talent and accomplished significantly more on the basketball court. Clyde’s better teammates are a legitimate argument against him, but most of the advanced stats show he was a better two-way player than Dame.

    Let the downvotes commence.

  19. chrispdx

    I’m old and I remember the Big Redhead being, for 18 months, one of the greatest centers in NBA History. Hands down the best passing center in NBA history. Won a chip, Finals MVP, and NBA MVP.

    I hate making player comparisons because different eras, different teams, different coaches, different situations. But for sheer accomplishments, there’s Walton (listed earlier), Drexler (2 NBA Finals, 2nd MVP 1992), and then I’ll take Dame over Roy, Rasheed, Lucas, and LaMarcus.

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