The debate about who the best point NBA guard is could go on for hours, but not if you ask Damian Lillard.
The Portland Trail Blazers star recently was asked on the "It Is What It Is" podcast if Warriors superstar Steph Curry is better than him. His answer was direct.
"I don't think anyone is better than me," Lillard firmly responded. "When I get on the court, that's probably my greatest strength, is I believe what I believe. And that's what it is."
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Host Cam'ron wanted to make things perfectly clear.
"You think you're the best point guard in the NBA right now?" he asked.
"Yeah," Lillard responded.
Golden State Warriors
Lillard's answer likely wasn't a direct shot at Curry, and was more about the level of confidence he has in himself. Curry also has that confidence, as he proclaimed last month on Gilbert Arena's podcast that he's the best point guard ever.
Curry isn't a traditional point guard, but he's certainly proven his elite talent in his 14 NBA seasons, both by making plays for his teammates or by hitting highlight-reel buckets as the league's all-time 3-point shooter (3,390 and counting). However, Lillard believes that if Curry had to play more of a true point guard role, the conversation would be very different.
"If Steph played in an offense like me, where it was required for him to have to have the ball more, we would get to see him do more point guard stuff," Lillard said.
While the two guards differ in their style of play, Lillard and Curry are very similar shooting-wise. Both can let it fly from well beyond the arc and are two of the league's best deep-range 3-point shooters. In fact, Lillard ranks sixth all time in 3-point shots, with 2,387, and is close to Curry's 3-pointers made and attempted career averages (3.8 and 9.0) with 3.1 and 8.3, respectively.
So, while it's fun to debate who's better, it's even more fun to watch Dame and Steph lit up whatever NBA court they're on.