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Ranking the 75 best players in NBA history for 75th anniversary

By Josh Cornelissen

Kobe Bryant (Photo credit should read Vince Bucci/AFP via Getty Images)
Kobe Bryant (Photo credit should read Vince Bucci/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

Ranking the 75 best players in NBA history: No. 56 – Damian Lillard

Career: 2012 – present

Achievements: All-NBA (6x); All-Star (6x); 10th in career 3-pointers

Damian Lillard is the Dominique Wilkins of the modern era, a truly gifted scorer with a unique, elite skill who never got the help he needed to make any real noise in the postseason. Where for ‘Nique it was his dunking, for Lillard it is his insane ability to hit shots in big moments from anywhere on the court.

Lillard would be seen as the greatest shooter in the history of the NBA if it weren’t for the Splash Brothers, and even so, he is a beloved NBA star known for his shotmaking. He has two walk-off series-winning shots, one of which came as a pull-up 3-pointer from the logo in the face of a former All-Defense guard. He is fearless, and he never met a shot he didn’t love.

Lillard has done well to elevate the teams he has played with, providing an involved and encouraging leadership style where he leads by example. Unfortunately, he has not received more help and only made it to the Conference Finals once before being clobbered by the Golden State Warriors. Lillard will have a great shot to finish third in career 3-pointers by the end of his career, behind Stephen Curry and James Harden.