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Where Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum rank among the best backcourts

By Erris Brown

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 30: Portland Trail Blazers Guard Damian Lillard (0) and Portland Trail Blazers Guard CJ McCollum (3) look on during an NBA game between the Portland Trail Blazers and the Los Angeles Clippers on January 30, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 30: Portland Trail Blazers Guard Damian Lillard (0) and Portland Trail Blazers Guard CJ McCollum (3) look on during an NBA game between the Portland Trail Blazers and the Los Angeles Clippers on January 30, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Photo by Jonathan Newton / The Washington Post via Getty Images
Photo by Jonathan Newton / The Washington Post via Getty Images /

3. John Wall and Bradley Beal – Washington Wizards

Career stats:

  • John Wall: 19.0 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 4.3 RPG, 1.7 SPG, 43.3 FG%, 32.4 3P%
  •  Bradley Beal: 19.1 PPG, 3.5 APG, 3.8 RPG, 44.8 FG%, 38.8 3P%

How often do you see any dynamic duo so evenly matched to the point they almost portray mirror images of each other? John Wall and Bradley Beal vs. Lillard and McCollum has been a backcourt comparison made for seasons upon seasons now, and for good reason.

They are both elite backcourt pairings that complement and lead each other, comprised of one scoring and solid/excellent facilitating point guard matched with a deadeye, volume scoring partner at the 2. They are far and away the designated stars on their rosters and lead supporting casts that, on paper, have a noticeable drop-off in talent. You could likely trade Wall and Beal to Portland and Lillard and McCollum to the nation’s capital and it is possible their records wouldn’t change too drastically.

We could go back and forth all day on this one. Both duos have been as far as the second round in the playoffs in their respective conferences. Wall trumps Lillard when it comes to his assist totals as he is one of the best facilitators the game has seen in the last decade;. However, Lillard trumps Wall in scoring ability being one of the most dominant presences on the offensive game in recent memory.

Beal and McCollum can both shoot the lights out, proving year after year they are some of the most prolific marksmen in the game. Between the Washington backcourt, six All-Star appearances are shared, while Portland’s three all belong to Lillard (do with that what you will, as the competition in the Western Conference has led to multiple snubs for both Lillard and McCollum).

The Blazers and Wizards have already wrapped up their brief two-game series, with the first matchup in October resulting in Portland’s first loss of the year and Washington’s first win in a 125-124 OT-thriller from the Moda Center. Bradley Beal led the way with a 25-point night, along with eight rebounds and seven assists, while John Wall backed him up with 16 points and nine dimes. Lillard and McCollum would combine 42 in a defeat.

The second half of this series was a flipped script, as Portland triumphed in DC, 119-109. The sheer dominance of Lillard and McCollum was on display, as the pair dropped 40 and 25 points, respectively, over Wall and Beal’s 24 and 12.

The season matchup is tied and the numbers, styles and builds are eerily similar. Although you could give the edge to Lillard and McCollum as of right now considering team record, this one is as close to a jump ball as any duo comparison can get in the NBA.

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