NBA players are always compared to one another, with fans, writers, and analysts judging who is better and who has more to prove.
Recently, Gilbert Arenas weighed Damian Lillard against Kyrie Irving and said Lillard would easily be preferred over Irving if he played in a bigger, more well-known market.
“If Dame was in a bigger market, we wouldn’t even be having this discussion. Kyrie’s a 3x All-NBA, Dame’s a 7x — that means he was a top 3 guard in the NBA for 7 years,” Arenas said.
Gilbert Arenas on Dame vs Kyrie:
“If Dame was in a bigger market, we wouldn’t even be having this discussion. Kyrie’s a 3x All-NBA, Dame’s a 7x — that means he was a top 3 guard in the NBA for 7 years.”
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— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) August 25, 2025
Lillard has done a lot more than be named All-NBA seven times.
He’s also a nine-time All-Star, All-Star MVP, Rookie of the Year, and member of the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.
To Arenas’ point, Lillard has played for a small market during his career.
He got his start with the Portland Trail Blazers and was one of the most important players in that franchise’s history.
When he came to the Milwaukee Bucks, he was the second option behind Giannis Antetokounmpo, but that didn’t last for long.
Now, he is coming back to Portland, a team that will probably continue to struggle.
Portland may have a lot of heart and some great fans, but it’s a market that pales in comparison to Los Angeles, New York, and other locations.
Plus, the Blazers have never really broken through during Lillard’s many years in the league, making it harder for him to get as much acclaim as he may deserve.
Meanwhile, Irving has become a champion and played for large locations and with future Hall of Famers.
Both men have been vital parts of their teams, but Arenas thinks that Lillard is worthy of more praise.
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