Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard understands the sentiments of those questioning why he's in the Top 75 list over the likes of Dwight Howard, Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter and other NBA legends. However, he wants his detractors to know one thing: he wasn't the one who made the list!
According to Dame, while he is surprised to be on the list, he knows fully he still has a lot to prove. After all, he is yet to win a championship or even an MVP award for the matter–which pales in comparison to other NBA icons.
“Out of all the players on there, I think I was the shortest tenured and the youngest. But I’m not the one making the list,” the Blazers guard said, per Sean Highkin of Bleacher Report.
After the Top 75 players were revealed, several NBA fans took to Twitter to share their opinions on who were snubbed. Aside from the likes of Dwight Howard, Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady, some believe that Klay Thompson and Kyrie Irving should have made it over Damian Lillard.
No diss to Damian Lillard, but there were times where he wasn’t even an all star and suddenly he’s a top 75 player over Kyrie and over Klay???? pic.twitter.com/8Se6iG8USu
— Sports Now with Darius & Aiden (@SportsNow_DA) October 22, 2021
There's no argument for Damian Lillard to make that Top 75 list over Dwight Howard pic.twitter.com/2RR1s8V2JH
— Shane Young (@YoungNBA) October 21, 2021
.@RealSkipBayless reacts to Kyrie left off NBA's Top 75 players of all time:
"What offended me is that Damian Lillard made this list. Give me a choice between Kyrie Irving and Dame, I'm taking Kyrie any day or night."
RT if you agree pic.twitter.com/B1SfT7CKeY
— UNDISPUTED (@undisputed) October 22, 2021
Then again, Damian Lillard is right that he was not the one who made the list. The league chose a panel of voters to decide who makes the cut and do not, and it's truly wrong to criticize a player for that.
Dame Time himself acknowledged that he is not as accomplished as those who missed the list. However, there is no doubt he is one of the best players to ever step foot on the NBA.
Lillard's case can be best compared to Shaquille O'Neal when he made the NBA Top 50 team during the 50th year anniversary of the league in 1996. At the time, Shaq was only four years into his pro career and had not yet won an MVP award or championship. He had the Rookie of the Year award and three All-Star appearances at the time, as well as a scoring championship, but it's definitely not as great as those before him.
With that said, having snubs is really part of a voting process. Fans have seen that time and time again on the All-Star game, and the Top 75 list is no different.
Follow Us
Subscribe