[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

 Last nights game got me thinking and I’m kind of curious to see what the general consensus is on this one. Both are tremendous individual players who are likely to be hall of famers one day. Both are scorers at heart but play the pg position. The way they go about it is slightly different but their overall career numbers are remarkably similar and they are close to the same age. 

The one clear advantage kyrie has is that he is a proven big game performer who has delivered on the highest stage. While dame has had his share of big moments as well, he’s never been in the same type of pressure situation as kyrie. Kyrie is also the slightly better defender imo and more natural playmaker, although both are primarily score first players. Conversely, lillard has been way more durable than kyrie. He almost never misses games while kyrie seems to miss a significant chunk every year. You could also say he has shown better leadership qualities and hasn’t been surrounded by the drama kyrie has in his career, although you could also argue some of that has been due to circumstance. 

Its remarkably close and there really isn’t a wrong answer, but if you had to choose one between the two who would it be and why?

 

[r377Participant]

 Both play hero ball.  All the time these 2 are the best player on the team they will never win a Championship.  Irving is always hurt, i don’t like his attitude as much.  Lillard is more durable, better teammate on and off the court.

[SeattleSuperChronicsParticipant]

I don’t like Lillard as a winner. Rondo owned him in the playoffs last year 

[Arc12345Participant]

Give me Lillard.

There are a variety of reasons why, but for me it comes down to leadership, durability, ability to play above the rim, and the lack of drama.

They can both shoot the hell out of the ball. They both have a great handle (edge to Kyrie who’s probably the best ever IMO). They both are clutch (Dame has never played in the same level games as Kyrie, but how many has Kyrie played in without Lebron…none). They’re about the same size. Kyrie is a slighty better playmaker like you said. Defense is a wash – neither of them are shutting anyone down.

But Dame has never had the questionable leadership moments like Kyrie. He never created drama when he could have for example with Lamarcus Aldrige (in fact Aldrige created the drama). Kyrie has a long injury history – Dame almost none. Dame plays above the rim and definitely gets the nod in terms of pure athleticism. 

Honestly if Kyrie had the same personality as Dame, I might be switching my choice. Those intanglibles really matter.

[halfdecayedParticipant]

 I think it’s so close that it comes down to durability and leadership skills. Irving is more efficient though, and his ball handling skills combined with crazy finishing skills with the glass make him more of an unstopable force than Lillard, who was shutdown by the Pels backcourt last year, don’t think they’d have shutdown Kyrie if he was on the Blazers. Then, there’s the fact that Kyrie thinks the world is flat……so this is a tough one.

[BlueRivers25Participant]

So far Kyrie has the upperhand. Played at Duke, #1 pick, Rookie of the Year, Rookie game MVP, 2nd youngest All Star MVP, 6 all star games starting 4, Team USA FIBA World Champ and Olympic Gold, NBA Champ, iconic clutch shot.

 

[The GoatParticipant]

 It’s line ball between these two, virtually everyone agrees, yet Kyrie has all these accomplishments.

Is he like the rich kid in school that gets everything even though he’s exactly the same as the poor kid who has busted their ass to get there? Did media pick up on him earlier and drive the hype?

Don’t get me wrong Kyrie, won everything on merit, but how is the gap so wide in recognition?

[MkadozaParticipant]

 Because winning.

[Gabester907Participant]

 Damian Lillard has a career winning percentage of over 54%. Kyrie Irving has a career winning percentage under 50% and that includes all of the Lebron years. Hell the celtics are 25-9 without him the past 2 seasons and the records not nearly as good with him. 

 

Getting carried by Lebron and hitting one shot in the finals does not constitute being a winner. Kyrie has been lucky enough to play with talented players his entire career while Lillard has had to carry his team to the playoffs almost every season.

[BKGingerSnapParticipant]

Give me Kyrie. I know Dame is more durable and less annoying but Kyrie is more talented. Kyrie has shot above 40% from 3 the last 3 seasons while Dame has been 37%, 36%, 36% over the past 3 seasons. On 2 pointers, Kyrie is 54% and 53% last 2 seasons while Dame has been 50% and 50%  the last 2 seasons. Kyrie is also more committed on the defensive end of the floor. Things can change at any moment and Dame could still end up having a better career but at this point I’ll take Kyrie who is younger at 26 than Dame is at 28 who I feel is more respected by other NBA players. 

[sweaterflexParticipant]

Basketball Reference 

One of the closest comparisons possible. In the regular season, Lillard is better by the tiniest of margins due to better shot selection and durability. Lillard is the one elite player Kyrie is a better defender than though. The playoffs are a different matter, as Kyrie has been clearly better. I prefer Lillard’s leadership style (Irving imitating LeBron’s style of subtweeting teammates constantly isn’t great), but Kyrie gets the edge.

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

The fact Dame doesn’t seem to piss off his teammates is huge. He’s always had a level head and had strong leadership qualities. I think his close knit family upbringing has played a huge role in his leadership style. Him being more durable is obviously huge too. 

What hasn’t been mentioned is the fact he doesn’t dribble the air out of the ball like Kyrie does. Lillard beats defenders in 2-3 steps only needing a couple of moves. I was watching a highlight on the gram of Kyrie doing a flashy move and making a flashy pass to a Smart for a shot. Everyone was impressed, but all I could think about was the fact Smart was open 5 seconds prior to all of the dribbling, etc. 

Lillard also is better playing without the ball in my opinion, which is always a good thing for the flow of the offense. 

It’s a tough decision because Kyrie is unbelievably talented/skilled despite his flaws, but I’d probably pick Dame. 

[OhCanada-Participant]

 I’ll take Dame over Kyrie in any situation. Averages 25 and 5 in the Western conference and usually finds a way into the playoffs with mediocre rosters. Contantly snubbed for the playoffs but you never hear anything from him, trade rumours constantly swarming around him yet he never replies to them in a negative manner and just keeps it professional. 

[Meditated StatesParticipant]

 Irving, better shooter,playmaker, light years better defender. Way better finisher inside. Kyrie is way better. More clutch. Levels to this sh!+ son

[tblazer_NZParticipant]

 Who would LeBron want on his team? I think it would be Dame. Whenever Portland goes into a slump, it is Dame’s leadership that brings his teammates up to get out of the slump. That can’t be said for Kyrie.

[Author]

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