Dame Wants To Be "The Best Trail Blazer Ever"

[ABM]

Nice.

https://www.talkbasket.net/50087-blazers-damian-lillard-i-want-to-be-the-best-trail-blazer-ever

The Portland Trail Blazer point guard Damian Lillard spoke on his final goal as a player and his obligation to the city of Portland:

Per Billboard: “I want to be the best Trail Blazer ever. And I think, it’s bigger than basketball to me. I think, obviously, you have to have the numbers to back it up which I am already on track for. I’m second in points. I think I am top three in assists. Free throws made, three pointers made, I’m No. 1. Like I’m up there as far as the stats.........

........"I’m representing the city. A lot of the best players that played here, that are considered the best players, didn’t want to play here and eventually left. Once I got on, I wanted to play here. I enjoy living here. I think I’m right there. I just got to continue doing what I’m doing and finish it off right,” (CONTINUED)

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

That to me is why you don't trade him unless he asks (which I doubt he will). Look at what guys like Dirk did for Dallas, he kept them relevant for over a decade, because he embraced it, they built around him. That doesn't mean the Blazers get a ring with Dame, but it's really important to have a superstar and a guy who may put up HoF type numbers say I love this place and want to be here.
I mean sure if someone said you could get Kawhi or someone like that for Dame I guess go ahead and think about it, but most superstars are moving team to team, and I think it's great to pay Dame for his loyalty here and hopefully they can build a winner around him.

 

[SheedSoNasty]

I like the jab at Clyde and LaMarcus.

 

[SIeepwalker]

Where have I heard that before !

 

[THE HCP]

LaMarcus on LaLine 1........

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

LaMarcus on LaLine 1........

Dame signed an extension a couple of years before he had to, so he's kinda locked up into his 30's now. LMA didn't do that.

 

[Strenuus]

that jab though!

I dont give a fuck about championships being the deciding factor in best blazer ever.

Dame already IS the best blazer ever. There is no argument. You can try to have one, but i wont agree with it.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Two championships should do it.

 

[tiredhunter]

Two championships should do it.

One and sticking with the team should make it undisputed. Or one championship and one grammy.

Tend to agree with Strenuus though, he has the commitment, marquee moments, and overall stats that he all-ready is. Though, I'd entertain the arguments of Dame vs Clyde vs Walton, I'd still be backing Dame.

 

[e_blazer]

that jab though!

I dont give a fuck about championships being the deciding factor in best blazer ever.

Dame already IS the best blazer ever. There is no argument. You can try to have one, but i wont agree with it.

I agree. The two other contenders would be Walton and Drexler. Walton won a title, but he only played here a short time and forced his way out, thereby blowing the championship team apart. Clyde didn't get it done to win a title. He was great, but does anyone really think he worked as hard as Dame does to maximize his contributions to the team? Clyde was a tremendous athlete, but he had a bit of lazy in him and cruised a lot on his natural athletic gifts. Dame gets the title as Blazers GOAT from me hands down.

 

[Natebishop3]

OH NOOOOO!

Trade him now. This is the first sign of the apocalypse.

 

[tlongII]

Luke should at least be in the discussion as well.

 

[jonnyboy]

At this point all Dame has to do is retire with the Blazers and it’s a done deal, best Blazer ever, even if he doesn’t get past Clyde in points. He’s currently my favorite blazer ever, but he’s my generation so it’s a no brainer for me. I understand it’s a tougher sell for some of the more seasoned fans though.

 

[riverman]

Luke should at least be in the discussion as well.

Babbit?

 

[Hoopguru]

For many, even

I agree. The two other contenders would be Walton and Drexler. Walton won a title, but he only played here a short time and forced his way out, thereby blowing the championship team apart. Clyde didn't get it done to win a title. He was great, but does anyone really think he worked as hard as Dame does to maximize his contributions to the team? Clyde was a tremendous athlete, but he had a bit of lazy in him and cruised a lot on his natural athletic gifts. Dame gets the title as Blazers GOAT from me hands down.

Plus Clyde was a lousy Tipper! Typical finance major!
Bet Dame is a big time tipper!

 

[Chris Craig]

I agree. The two other contenders would be Walton and Drexler. Walton won a title, but he only played here a short time and forced his way out, thereby blowing the championship team apart. Clyde didn't get it done to win a title. He was great, but does anyone really think he worked as hard as Dame does to maximize his contributions to the team? Clyde was a tremendous athlete, but he had a bit of lazy in him and cruised a lot on his natural athletic gifts. Dame gets the title as Blazers GOAT from me hands down.

Bill Walton played 4 seasons with Portland, went to the playoffs twice, of course winning the championship the 1st year he went to the playoffs with Portland (his 3rd year). He never averaged more than 65 games a season because of injury. He played in 209 out of 328 regular season games in his four years. He didn't play his last year because of a foot injury. He averaged 17.1 points, 13.5 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 2.6 blocks. He was a finals MVP, a NBA MVP, 2x All star. He was a NBA rebounding and Blocks leader. He owns 3 Blazers all time records (rebounds per game, player efficency rating, and defensive rating) Walton was one of three Blazers to record a 5x5. Ultimately, he damanded to be traded citing ill treatment by the Blazers. He left a FA.

Clyde Drexler played for the Trail Blazers for 11 1\2 seasons including a Blazers best 63-19 1990-91 season. He went to the playoffs with Portland every season of that time. He was part of two Finals appearances (1989-90 and 1991-92) and a Conference Final in between. He was an 8x all star with Portland. He holds 20 Blazers all time records. He averaged 20.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game. He was a member of the The Dream Team and was considered the 2nd best SG in the NBA next to Michael Jordan. Drexler asked to be traded to the Rockets so he could win a championship. The Blazers traded him.

Damian Lillard has played for the Blazers for seven seasons, leading Portland to the playoffs for six of those. He has made it as far as the western conference finals with Portland. He is a 4x All star. He holds 5 Blazers all time records. He is one of three nba players to debut with a 20 pt, 10 ast game (Oscar Robertson and Allen Iverson were the other two) He won rookie of the year. He has thus far averaged 23.5 pts, 4.2 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game. Lillard has sworn he will not leave the Blazers and will do everything he can to bring a championship to Portland.

These three players are the only Blazers to make the All NBA first team.

Who is the best?

 

[e_blazer]

Bill Walton played 4 seasons with Portland, went to the playoffs twice, of course winning the championship the 1st year he went to the playoffs with Portland (his 3rd year). He never averaged more than 65 games a season because of injury. He played in 209 out of 328 regular season games in his four years. He didn't play his last year because of a foot injury. He averaged 17.1 points, 13.5 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 2.6 blocks. He was a finals MVP, a NBA MVP, 2x All star. He was a NBA rebounding and Blocks leader. He owns 3 Blazers all time records (rebounds per game, player efficency rating, and defensive rating) Walton was one of three Blazers to record a 5x5. Ultimately, he damanded to be traded citing ill treatment by the Blazers. He left a FA.

Clyde Drexler played for the Trail Blazers for 11 1\2 seasons including a Blazers best 63-19 1990-91 season. He went to the playoffs with Portland every season of that time. He was part of two Finals appearances (1989-90 and 1991-92) and a Conference Final in between. He was an 8x all star with Portland. He holds 20 Blazers all time records. He averaged 20.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game. He was a member of the The Dream Team and was considered the 2nd best player in the NBA next to Michael Jordan. Drexler asked to be traded to the Rockets so he could win a championship. The Blazers traded him.

Damian Lillard has played for the Blazers for seven seasons, leading Portland to the playoffs for six of those. He has made it as far as the western conference finals with Portland. He is a 4x All star. He holds 5 Blazers all time records. He is one of three nba players to debut with a 20 pt, 10 ast game (Oscar Robertson and Allen Iverson were the other two) He won rookie of the year. He has thus far averaged 23.5 pts, 4.2 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game. Lillard has sworn he will not leave the Blazers and will do everything he can to bring a championship to Portland.

These three players are the only Blazers to make the All NBA first team.

Who is the best?

He who is last shall be first.

 

[e_blazer]

Bill Walton played 4 seasons with Portland, went to the playoffs twice, of course winning the championship the 1st year he went to the playoffs with Portland (his 3rd year). He never averaged more than 65 games a season because of injury. He played in 209 out of 328 regular season games in his four years. He didn't play his last year because of a foot injury. He averaged 17.1 points, 13.5 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 2.6 blocks. He was a finals MVP, a NBA MVP, 2x All star. He was a NBA rebounding and Blocks leader. He owns 3 Blazers all time records (rebounds per game, player efficency rating, and defensive rating) Walton was one of three Blazers to record a 5x5. Ultimately, he damanded to be traded citing ill treatment by the Blazers. He left a FA.

Clyde Drexler played for the Trail Blazers for 11 1\2 seasons including a Blazers best 63-19 1990-91 season. He went to the playoffs with Portland every season of that time. He was part of two Finals appearances (1989-90 and 1991-92) and a Conference Final in between. He was an 8x all star with Portland. He holds 20 Blazers all time records. He averaged 20.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game. He was a member of the The Dream Team and was considered the 2nd best player in the NBA next to Michael Jordan. Drexler asked to be traded to the Rockets so he could win a championship. The Blazers traded him.

Damian Lillard has played for the Blazers for seven seasons, leading Portland to the playoffs for six of those. He has made it as far as the western conference finals with Portland. He is a 4x All star. He holds 5 Blazers all time records. He is one of three nba players to debut with a 20 pt, 10 ast game (Oscar Robertson and Allen Iverson were the other two) He won rookie of the year. He has thus far averaged 23.5 pts, 4.2 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game. Lillard has sworn he will not leave the Blazers and will do everything he can to bring a championship to Portland.

These three players are the only Blazers to make the All NBA first team.

Who is the best?

One suggested correction: Clyde was considered to be the second best shooting guard of his era (and there was a significant gap between him and Jordan). He was never considered the second best player overall.

 

[Reep]

I think Dame will hit his goal, but I'm not quite ready to put him there right now. I think he needs at least one trip to the finals to pass up Clyde.

 

[GrandpaBlaze]

Call it semantics or whatever you like.

To me Lillard is the best Blazer ever. He may not yet have the records, a championship or an MVP but he is the best Blazer representative period.

Perhaps different than being the best Blazer player ever (and that is not far off IMO).

Gramps...

 

[kjironman1]

You can try to have one, but i wont agree with it.

You do have that way about you don't you?

 

[kjironman1]

I watched all three Walton, Drexler, and Lillard. Different positions and different games. Even the style of play today is much different. When Drexler took a game over it was a sight to behold. When Walton took over it was just as awesome. But in the end i feel Lillard will eclipse both Walton and Drexler. I hope Dame and the Blazers get a championship is his career here. He deserves it and with the right players around him i feel it is very possible. We have all just witnessed the kind of luck it takes to get a chip. If Leonard doesn't get that third bounce on the last second shot Toronto doesn't even make the finals let alone if Durant were healthy as well as Boogie.

Lillard will be a part of the Hall of Fame. He will go in with a Blazer jersey on. Of that you can be certain. That alone should make him the best Blazer ever!

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Bill Walton played 4 seasons with Portland, went to the playoffs twice, of course winning the championship the 1st year he went to the playoffs with Portland (his 3rd year). He never averaged more than 65 games a season because of injury. He played in 209 out of 328 regular season games in his four years. He didn't play his last year because of a foot injury. He averaged 17.1 points, 13.5 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 2.6 blocks. He was a finals MVP, a NBA MVP, 2x All star. He was a NBA rebounding and Blocks leader. He owns 3 Blazers all time records (rebounds per game, player efficency rating, and defensive rating) Walton was one of three Blazers to record a 5x5. Ultimately, he damanded to be traded citing ill treatment by the Blazers. He left a FA.

Clyde Drexler played for the Trail Blazers for 11 1\2 seasons including a Blazers best 63-19 1990-91 season. He went to the playoffs with Portland every season of that time. He was part of two Finals appearances (1989-90 and 1991-92) and a Conference Final in between. He was an 8x all star with Portland. He holds 20 Blazers all time records. He averaged 20.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game. He was a member of the The Dream Team and was considered the 2nd best SG in the NBA next to Michael Jordan. Drexler asked to be traded to the Rockets so he could win a championship. The Blazers traded him.

Damian Lillard has played for the Blazers for seven seasons, leading Portland to the playoffs for six of those. He has made it as far as the western conference finals with Portland. He is a 4x All star. He holds 5 Blazers all time records. He is one of three nba players to debut with a 20 pt, 10 ast game (Oscar Robertson and Allen Iverson were the other two) He won rookie of the year. He has thus far averaged 23.5 pts, 4.2 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game. Lillard has sworn he will not leave the Blazers and will do everything he can to bring a championship to Portland.

These three players are the only Blazers to make the All NBA first team.

Who is the best?

We need to make some distinctions.

Are we talking about "The Best Player Who Was A Trail Blazer"? If so, we should probably include Pippen and Sabonis. This category allows that the player's best seasons were not as a Blazer.
Perhaps better: "The Player Who Had The Best Season As A Blazer". This would seem to favor Walton, especially if you're going by achievements rather than stats.
Do we mean: "Very Good Player Who Is Most Beloved"? This would seem to count against Walton and Clyde because of the sour taste they left and their not-amazing personalities.
Do we mean: "Most Loyal To The Fanbase"? So far so good for Damien. But of course, So far so good for Clyde at the same stage in his career...

It's sad that we've had three potential Greatest Blazers whose careers were ruined by injury (Walton, Brandon Roy and Greg Oden [don't laugh, I'm serious]). There are alternative possible worlds where each of them is Greatest Blazer. I'm actually leaning to Walton as ACTUAL Greatest Blazer - particularly given how his team beat a much-favored Sixers team with at least a couple Hall-of-Famers on it.

 

[Strenuus]

You do have that way about you don't you?

Haha! I just have things that i wont budge on.

 

[e_blazer]

Call it semantics or whatever you like.

To me Lillard is the best Blazer ever. He may not yet have the records, a championship or an MVP but he is the best Blazer representative period.

Perhaps different than being the best Blazer player ever (and that is not far off IMO).

Gramps...

Well, he's certainly the one that I'd consider adopting as a son.

That new contract extension is only a small factor in my decision.

 

[Hobbesarable]

This thread topic seems familiar.

 

[e_blazer]

This thread topic seems familiar.

Just think of it a summer deja doo-doo.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

Figured instead of starting yet ANOTHER new thread, I would bump this one. Is Damian Lillard still the best Trail Blazer ever in your opinion? I know a lot of people finally moved him to the top in the last year (more lifetime achievement award really) because he had a great comeback season and because of his loyalty. Make sure to post if you thought he was best ever (maybe you didn't) and what you think now. Or maybe it is too soon?

 

[Natebishop3]

The kiss of death.

 

[Tince]

I've got no desire to throw Dame's words back in his face. He's been beyond patient.

I wish Dame had 75% of the talent around him that Walton and Drexler got.