Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard is an elite 3-point shooter in his own right.
But for some reason, not many people think of him when discussing the best shooters from beyond the arc that play in the NBA. Most people always gravitate toward Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson of the Golden State Warriors, and then get eventually get to specialists like Kyle Korver or J.J Redick.
But on Sunday, Lillard may have changed that conversation once and for all.
Against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Lillard became only the second player to make at least 100 3-pointers in each of his first six years in the NBA, per the official Twitter account of the Blazers. The other player? Thompson of the Warriors.
Some @NBA history here in the third quarter. @Dame_Lillard x #NBAVote pic.twitter.com/UGkeFMZsqE
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) January 15, 2018
Lillard just cemented himself into serious company. And it becomes even more impressive when considering how Lillard plays versus Thompson.
The Warriors sharpshooter is basically just that — a shooter. He gets most of his shots in transition or off screens and set plays. He's not often dribbling frantically to find room for a shot.
But Lillard is Portland's main ball-handler. He not only has to score, but he is also tasked with running the offense for the Trail Blazers. And while doing all that, he is still figuring out a way to bomb threes and connect with regularity.
No one thinks of Lillard as a pure shooter, and maybe it's because of his role with Portland. But role or no role, Lillard is one darn good shooter.
It's about time we start thinking of him that way.
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