[Highlight] Damian Lillard scores 29 points in the final round of the 3-Point Contest, eliminating Kon Knueppel.
That 2021 game 5 performance is engraved in my head
Yeah. I’m a big Dame fan and that shit is just stuck in my head forever. Stuck in a shitty bar where everyone else hated the Blazers and me losing my mind over and over while my friend gets increasingly concerned
No Hornet hates the Blazers
wait why
what reason do we have to lol. They’re in a different conference & got a good fan base.
A love for Gerald Wallace
Not so much for Raymond Felton tho…
o i thought there was a specific reason lol
I think it’s also because they are another fan base that deserves way better than theyve gotten (for different reasons)
I actually like watching Charlotte play when I see them. Brandon Miller one of my fav young players.
I was in the same situation at a Houston bar during that series. Big Dame fan, big dislike of the Rockets. Every head went down while my arms went up. Dame Time was born that night
Same. His stat line doesn’t do it justice either.(55⁄10 with 12 3pm) He single handedly forced multiple overtime’s with insane shots in situations where the game should have been over. One of the best performances ever imo.
It’s actually technically THE best playoff performance of all time if you look at gamescores.
He had 55-10-6 with 3 blocks and a steal on a TS of 96.8 and even still the stats don’t do it justice.
That game broke me and idk if I’ve healed completely
CJ stepping out of bounds and Roco missing wide open layups. Makes me mad just thinking of it.
For real.
I remember Rivers thanking God. Valid response
I’ll never forget that either. I was avoiding outside and excited basketball was able to happen. Watched the performance of a life time. Too bad there wasn’t a full crowd, place would’ve went nutsssss
That game 5 was literally the best playoff performance of all time btw based on advanced stats (gamescore)
I can’t believe they lost that game despite him doing all that, speaks to just how little help he had
I was there. Will forever be a story i tell. White out
Look we’re not bringing Dame back for his D, let’s just let Dame go stand on the floor every once in a while to shoot some damn hoops
10 minutes and 27 points per game on 9⁄10 shooting. Plus two assists.
If that’s his per game stats you basically just need to play defense when he’s off and win.
I watched him go like 6⁄6 for 20 in the first quarter against the pacers in like 2016 or 2017. He only finished with 32 but that first quarter was the coolest quarter of basketball I ever watched.
damian has had some legendary first quarter performances. would routinely drop 20+ in the first quarter
Traveled from the east coast to Portland just to see their arena in 2018. They played GSW and Dame had 44, KD 50 and Blazers won by 6.
I’ve seen a lot of games, but watching those two battle in a random foreign arena was one of my favorites. Caught some more Blazers games in the east just to see Dame again
I’ve seen Dame do this so many times. He’ll start the game scorching hot and then the defense is blitzing and denying him the rest of the game which helps his teammates.
He doesn’t even have to dribble. Just catch a shoot
Vivek shedding a tear
At least now you have Clingan protecting the paint.
Dame Time back in session
Last time we’ll see him on the court until next season.
He will be back just in time for the Finals
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honestly…it’d be really cool if they were deep in hte playoffs and he’s like, “fuck it. lets goooo” and tries to come back for the last 2 rounds
Images of Haliburton writhing in pain on the floor immediately come to mind.
Thing is, if Portland went deep in the playoffs and he was cleared, I think he’d play. That’s the point. Might never get that chance again. Play ball. Take that risk.
Might never get that chance again.
i didn’t even think about that.
but yeah, he’s at the end of his career.
He’s got a few seasons left at most. Coming back early and getting hurt cause of that might completely get him out of the league but for 1 or 2 more seasons, its a risk I think he’d take cause there’s only 2 more chances or so.
There goes my hero
A rare few don’t need a ring for their legacy to be solidified. He is one of them.
Lillard going be comin out of retirement to suit up for the 3pt contest in 2032 I swear to god hahahaha
By 2052 he’s gonna be walking out with a cane like Willy Wonka and winning it
walking out with a cane like Willy Wonka
He’ll get his cane stuck courtside between the ground and elevated court and perform a dramtic sommersault.
2072 shooting from his death bed.
Like Robin Hood with his last arrow
Just bury him under the hoop where that last shot goes in
Plz respect NBA cup winner Dame Lillard
Also the NBA 2020 Disney seeding games MVP. Literally the Mickey Mouse MVP
https://www.behance.net/gallery/102602459/The-Bubble-MVP/modules/590546775
Ppl laugh but he was voted as the unanimous bubble mvp, I bet if your favorite players won it you’d take it more seriously. Dame really played out of his mind in the bubble.
The Darvin Ham Classic
Can we call it the HamBowl or
https://thefader-res.cloudinary.com/private_images/w_760,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:best/D46OaxbW0AA0mbU_hteq5o/damian-lillard-portland-trail-blazers-game-winner-blog.jpg
Imagine Dame pulls up out of nowhere for Blazers first round series against the Thunder like he did tonight lmao. Whole state of Oklahoma would be shaking.
It would be great to inflict some PTSD before they went on to beat us by 30 in games 2 through 5.
The greatest are held to the highest standards, the goods get on by much easier
Calling a top 75 all time player, a 3x three-point contest winner, a first ballot HOFer, and one of the greatest shooters this game will ever see “good” is laughably blasphemous
Is he not good at what he does? I mean the greats as in the ‘historical greats*’. It’s ridiculous to hold everybody to that standard, but we do hold historical figures who are truly great to that standard.
If we’re just talking basketball, then he’s absolutely one of the greats.
Oh… well then yeah fair enough. But the notion he’s not “great” because he likely won’t have a ring just doesn’t fly with me. Let’s see how many superstars could win a ring with CJ McCollum as their best running mate in this era.
What about Giannis?
If that situation would’ve panned out he’d be wearing a Bucks jersey in the video here. Milwaukee’s institutions were a shit show at the time.
I’d also say that their partnership not working out was partially because of Giannis not adapting his playstyle (from what I’ve read).
What a stupid take. We’re in a basketball sub talking about basketball players. The word “great” is implied to mean “great at basketball.”
I get what you’re saying, but individually Dame is one of the greats in NBA history. Now, its obviously a much larger list than 10 people, but a team sport has much more variables that can stop a great from achieving things like the required hardware, compared to individual sports like boxing or tennis. You put Dame in a luckier situation and we’re most likely talking about him much differently. That’s just how it is.
everyone is entitled to a wrong opinion from time to time
I suppose that applies to the majority of your country given the results of your last election.
laughably blasphemous
Ok relax lol
I will audibly laugh if dame gets into the HOF in his first ballot. You’re fucking high lmao
Meh, that’s pretty subjective. Dame is just a good player. He has accomplished nothing and flaked on the biggest of stages repeatedly.
Oh you’re a wizards fan? Yea he’s probably an all time great from your perspective. 😂
He’s been carrying All-Star Weekend throughout the 2020s even when he’s injured.
Love that he mentioned stars representing the game this weekend to entertain fans is the point of it all and called out those too afraid to step up.
I’m out of the loop. Is he already playing or is his Achilles healed just enough to do the contest?
The latter. It’s not like a full contact game where he’s running full court, cutting, and taking hits. He’s just moving between the racks of balls, which is pretty low impact.
WTF this already happened?? What happened to all star Saturday NIGHT? I’m so confused. The Kia shooting stars are going on after this??
SAME WTF. this should’ve been on second. nobody gives af about the shooting stars ugh
Olympics.
What? You don’t want to watch Women’s Curling instead?
Curling rules.
Fuck yeah
Give me more Cory Thiesse excellence.
Jfc how is curling still on
Canada
Curling is way better than nowadays nba all star weekend
do they cheat like the men do?
Yep, and got caught
Right? Was what I was most interested in.
Olympics I’m guessing
The NBA’s premiere event was rescheduled so people could watched tape delayed luge preliminaries
ON OREGONS BIRTHDAY
TIL Oregon was founded on Valentine’s Day (how romantic!)
…anyway, bravo!!
Arizona too so book winning would’ve been the same thing
The Trail Blazers play in the Rose Quarter.
At the Rose Garden Arena too!
😂😂😂 so fitting
Wait. WHY is this contest before the skills challenge. What I missed the whole thing thinking it was the second event
I did the same thing smh this should’ve been the last event before the dunk contest
Honestly at this point the 3 point contest should be the marquee event.
If you put it in first, more people are likely to watch the whole thing than if you start with the 3pt.
It’s like a wrestling show. You start with banger to get the crowd hot, have the bathroom break matches in the middle and then people stick around for the main event.
I tuned in at 8 thinking I would catch both, only to realize it all started at 5?
bro same..
Thats my point god.
So dope to see him in a Blazers uniform again.
I wasn’t aware he wore any other uni
And yet people were complaining on why he was there lmfao. dudes one of the 10 best shooters we’ve ever seen, idc if he was retired this is entertaining. i’d love to see him or 5 year retired Steph Curry compete in the future or something like that.
Only reason his shooting isn’t more respected is because his prime overlapped with the greatest shooter of all time.
Alexey Shved
Couldn’t have said it any better. Hope he gets a ring before he retires.
Yeah and he isn’t 3-10
It would be awesome to see ‘retired’ three point contest.
I just witnessed Booker absolutely CHOKE jeez, congrats Dame Time!
Tbf, that’s a pretty common sight lol
Booker still had 27 which is a really good score, Dame just set a very high mark to beat
I appreciate this so much. Huge respect. I had my doubts for absolutely no reason. He’s proved himself for years and years.
Doubts could be stemming from his season ending injury, which would be valid lol
For a first look at him in a Blazers jersey, it looks great. Really suits him.
He looks very good with that jersey. The OG is back
Yeah, youd never think of Lillard in a Blazers jersey, but it fits him and im glad they took a chance on him while hes recovering through his injury!
I thought he was injured lol
Guess you don’t need a heel to shoot threes lol
He was injured almost a year ago. Tatum had the same injury, but later, and is already 5v5 practicing.
Seriously?
Tatum was injured in the 2nd round of the playoffs, instead of the 1st round. That’s not some big time difference to call out.
It’s not surprising that Tatum is healing quicker because he’s 8 years younger. Someone is going to have a much quicker time getting back to full strength at 27 compared to their 35 year old peer. And even still, both of them are healing and looking near playing from practice footage.
He was shooting those with sweatpants.
Okay, I take my complaints back, he deserved to be on the contest.
I’m pretty sure he was hiding his legs. When you tear your Achilles your legs look jacked up, one calf muscle gets tiny from not using it and the other gets huge from favoring it. Bro out here winning a 3pt contest with an injured achilles.
Bill Simmons crying in the studio
Why?
He absolutely loves Kon.
He drove Kon 30 minutes to Kon’s hotel after he was on Bill’s podcast.
I mean, if he has the time why not? That’s how you get a lifelong guest on your show.
He’s going to be able to shoot like this probably when he’s 50, so smooth
Kon and Book have classic jumpers that make sense. I can see how they shoot and why they’re so accurate. Dame’s jumper is like magic. It’s so compact, he barely moves, but it’s crazy powerful. Mitchell is similar but not on the same level.
generational choke from Booker
Booker gave it to Dame for the vibes
Its gonna be so good to have a real shooter again next year.
Bro how tf is Lillard still this elite even after the ACL tear???? Ice cold runs through his blood fr
Achilles
Dame is built different. He also returned from a blood clot faster than anyone ever.
That’s now 3 wins in the last 4 years
He has a 3-3 record. Steph has a 2-5 record js
Old man still got it
This is just awesome, seeing him in a Blazers jersey is great
Good to see a big name player in the 3 point contest💯
35 years old Bad Achilles and all Absolutely amazing.
VIDEO GAME DAME
How much different would those prime Golden State teams be in an alternate timeline with Lillard swapped for Curry?
Off the ball Steph is what makes the team tick
I’ve wondered about this for years. Dame is a notch or two below Curry as a shooter, but he’s been a monster in the PnR for a decade and who knows, maybe his movement shooting would have come around if he was playing off Draymond and Klay. I can’t help but think he’d probably have the same number of rings
Curry is a better pure shooter, but Dame was always a killer who stepped up to the moment and I think was a better point guard. The Warriors operated better with Dray being the defacto point and Klay making it impossible to throw the sink at Curry.
Dame would’ve won some rings with that team, but it probably wasn’t the right fit for their motion offense. But, had Dame actually had a team around, maybe a dude like LaMarcus and some actual shooting wings, he might have stolen some from the Warriors
There’s a world where the Dame/Roy/Batum/Aldridge/Oden Blazers match up against the dynasty Warriors. Even sub Roy for Matthews and that team would have competed at the top of the West for a long time
Glad to see him back!
Kon Knueppel Klan in shambles
wearing warmups is wild
Top 4 shooter ever man 🔥
Top 2
Not a fan of the new format. 24 out of 30 with the old one is still really good though.
Dame in pants is the new Larry Legend with the warm up jacket
Awesome to see letter O back out there in a blazers jersey, just draining threes! It’s cathartic as hell. All smiles over here.
So like, is he coming back for the playoffs?
Playoffs?
Well.. play ins. Then maybe…?
That would require us actually making the playoffs, which isn’t likely.
He will not play NBA basketball this season. You can put your life savings on that.
Which platform should I put my life savings on?
Ask Giannis
Sick didn’t even know this was happening
Wtf I didn’t even know he was back. Bucks fumbled so damn hard with how they handled Dame’s contract.
Class is permanent.
That camera work was awful, just hold it steady good lord.
Feels so right seeing him back in that Blazers jersey
Love seeing him out there.
This is about the only contest I watch now
DAME TIME
I play in pinball tournaments with 4 players to a machine. One of the clichés when someone comes close on a comeback attempt is to say something like “nice job, you almost had us”. We said that to this guy Finnegan and he tells us to shut up and we were hoping he’d lose the ball. And ya know he was absolutely right.
Kon choked that hard in the finals? 17 seems low
Im a ultra casual NBA fan who basically follows the day to day goings on through podcasts and this sub reddit…i had no idea Lillard was on Portland again.
Wait what?
Why so early? Why is the dunk contest not retired/on first instead?
Brings a teareth to my eyeth
HE BACK
They should have someone pass the ball to them instead of the twist back and forth to get the ball, position and shoot. Just have two guys on either side of a cart taking turns pitching the ball. Seems like a more natural way to do this.
It would take a little more time and the passes would need to be consistently accurate. Having the racks makes it even for everyone and it’s more fluid.
I’m gonna grown man cry when I’m at the Moda center next year cheering this legend back out onto the court.
Rack 1 cameraman should be relieved of his duties.
If only he ever learned how to move without the ball like Steph. Dame and Giannis could have broke the NBA
RIP City
Dame & Harden will always own ChokCurry casuals in shambles😆🫢💯
Empty stadium. Strobing light effect for the win.
What the hell, Dame is cleared to play even in the 3 point contest???
He has with KD ,the most beautiful throw.
A broken watch is right twice a day
Kon gets an invite but not Trey Murphy III? That’s BS
I don’t know what’s more fucked up. Dame supposedly being out for the year with an injury but able to compete in the 3 pt contest or that the stands are like 30% filled with people
Need a Dame vs Curry shoot-out
That’s gotta be top 5 prettiest shooting forms I’ve ever seen