Who is the true master of the point guard position? Stephen Curry has won three NBA championships and two MVPs, including a unanimous MVP award for his incredible season in 2016.

He has also been credited with being the greatest shooter in NBA history, having transformed the game into what it is now. For a long time, Curry was unquestionably the finest point guard in the NBA.

 

However, Damian Lillard’s outstanding season has cast doubt on Curry’s status as the number one player. He appears to make more jumpers from 35 feet, has a larger and stronger build when attacking the basket, and is one of the most clutch players we’ve seen in his position. Is Dame talented enough to dethrone Curry as the league’s best player?

To settle the discussion and determine who is the best point guard, compare the two dominant players to discover who comes out on top.

 

This season, Dame averages 30.0 points per game and shoots 46.3% from the field. He also shoots 88.8% from the free throw line and 40.1% from three. It’s astonishing how Lillard can shoot the ball so perfectly while still having such a successful season since he has done everything he can to keep his team competitive in the face of injuries. He has always been an excellent scorer, but this season he has taken a significant step forward.

 

Curry has never had a scoring season like Lillard’s, but it doesn’t mean he isn’t a terrific scorer in general. Curry is the original marksman who can make his own shot from three, and he is possibly the most lethal shooter we’ve ever seen when he’s on. Curry’s career average of 23.5 points per game on 43.5% three-point shooting establishes him as an all-time great shooter.

Overall, Damian Lillard had an incredible scoring season and is a true force at the hoop. Curry’s consistency as the best shooter ever evens things out here, and time will tell if Lillard can claim to be a greater scorer if he maintains this level for at least one or two more seasons.

 

Damian Lillard’s Athleticism (source: Blazers Edge)

Stephen Curry’s athleticism is slightly underappreciated. He has a little physique and cannot leap like Russell Westbrook, but he is 6’3″ tall and incredibly quick with the ball. Off the ball, he is quite effective coming off screens but appears to lose players on defence.

But Damian Lillard is on another level. He has incredible hops and can lay it down for a monster slam over most centres. Lillard is also stronger and able to attack the rim with greater speed and explosiveness. Curry is crafty around the rim, but not particularly explosive. As a result, Lillard is a superior athlete.

Defence: Stephen Curry
Both players are not recognised for their defence because they have a lot of offensive responsibilities. Curry and Lillard lack the pure defensive awareness of other great defensive players, therefore they are frequently disguised on defence to keep them fresh and healthy for the offence on the other end.

 

Lillard stands 6’2″ and has career averages of 1.0 SPG and 0.3 BPG. He does not shut down any point guards on a nightly basis and does not have a significant influence in terms of stops. Curry, on the other hand, stands 6’3″ and has a career scoring average of 1.7 SPG and 0.2 BPG. Curry stands an inch taller and has more active hands than Lillard. Stephen Curry is far from a defensive stopper, but he adds good height and fast hands to the table, allowing him to grab the ball.

Curry’s active hands and length usually make him a more potent defensive defender. Curry wins despite the fact that neither player is defensively inclined.

Damian Lillard’s clutch performance (source: CBS Sports).

Damian Lillard is an excellent scorer and playmaker, but it may be his clutch shot-making that sets him apart. Dame is famous for ending entire organisations with his shot-making, most notably the Oklahoma City Thunder with Russell Westbrook and the Houston Rockets with Dwight Howard. Dame not only makes great shots throughout the regular season, but also in the playoffs. Lillard has a penchant for getting the ball, moving everyone out of the way, and carrying his team’s success on his shoulders.

Curry has regrettably received criticism in his game for not being clutch. Curry can control a game yet appear to falter at crucial moments because someone with his incredible talent and skill is expected to always deliver in the clutch. Maybe it’s because defences are so focused on stopping Curry, the greatest shooter of all time, or he simply hasn’t got the opportunity to show off his clutch shooting. His memorable game-winner against the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2016 was spectacular, but he lacks moments to match Lillard.

Leader: Stephen Curry
Stephen Curry and Damian Lillard are their teams’ uncontested leaders, and if they fail to produce, they will be held accountable.

Curry’s shooting talent has earned him recognition throughout the NBA, and he is one of the most effective players in league history. Lillard is also becoming a more prominent personality in the league, and his leadership skills have grown significantly over the years. As their teams’ primary ball carriers and scorers, they must demonstrate leadership qualities.

So far, Steph has demonstrated the ability to lead his team in shot-making and steady offence while also serving as the Warriors’ franchise player. He made five consecutive NBA Finals, and while they had Kevin Durant, it was Curry’s selflessness as a leader that tied it all together.

Basketball IQ – Stephen Curry
Stephen Curry must accept responsibility for his basketball IQ. Curry seems to be born with an innate sense of how to play the game, and he is a great student of the game. The way he dribbles in his pre-game routines and performs on the court every night is attributable not only to his skill and preparation, but also to his basketball I.Q. Curry understands where to be on offence and defence, and he moves better without the ball than anyone in the league.

Lillard has a high I.Q, but he lacks the offensive and defensive awareness of Stephen Curry. Dame has a tendency to take terrible shots, even by his own standards, and is not as strong defensively. Dame wants to establish that he is the best point guard in the game in terms of basketball intelligence, but Curry is somewhat ahead of him in this regard.

Stephen Curry’s impact, as reported by The Mercury News.

This is the most difficult to gauge. Lillard is enjoying an incredible season, while Curry has been hailed as the greatest shooter we’ve ever seen.

Curry has transformed the game, giving him a significant advantage in this comparison because the whole NBA now prefers to shoot threes. Lillard may not be as well-known as Steph Curry for his shooting, but he could be the finest 35-foot-plus shooter in NBA history. Dame can easily pull up from 35, making him a formidable opponent on his own.

Both point guards shoot well and have a significant impact on the game, but Curry outperforms Lillard. Nobody predicted that a skinny point guard could transform the NBA game. He is a dangerous dribbler and shooter.

Curry’s pure skill set and incredible talent elevates him above Lillard. There is a reason why Curry has three NBA championships, and he deserves this recognition.

1 vs 1 – Even
Damian Lillard and Stephen Curry are both elite scorers who can light up the scoreboard from outside. Curry can break down his opponent with dribbling moves and then step back for a fast jumper. This is a patented move we’ve seen numerous times. Curry can also attack the hoop with creative finishes thanks to his gentle touch.

Lillard can also break down a defender with dribble techniques, but he has incredible explosiveness in going past an opponent. Once Lillard passes a defender, the game is done. He is really quick and explosive, and he can finish near the rim effortlessly. He can also step back and bury shots, like Stephen Curry.

Overall, this is another difficult one to evaluate. Curry is the maestro of the contested jumper, and he only requires a centimetre of room to let it fly. Dame is similar, but with more explosiveness. This one is too close and should be even.

Career: Stephen Curry
Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze/USA TODAY Sports.

Without a doubt, Stephen Curry had a better career than Damien Lillard. Lillard still has time to catch up, but Curry has already established himself as one of the greatest point guards of all time. His three NBA championships and two MVP awards earn him Hall of Fame status, and he is still largely regarded as the best shooter of all time.

Damian Lillard has yet to win an MVP award, and last season’s Western Conference Finals appearance was his career highlight. Dame underperformed slightly, and the Trail Blazers lost to the Warriors. Lillard is younger and more athletic, but Curry has had a much more successful career with the Golden State Warriors.

Conclusion
Stephen Curry and Damian Lillard are evenly matched in almost every key attribute except the intangibles of winning. In the end, Curry has the advantage because he has little else to prove as a famous point guard. He only needs to get into the top five to catch up to Magic Johnson, which may or may not happen. Lillard is currently the most explosive scorer capable of going for 50 points. He will need time to overcome Curry, but Curry is still the best point guard in the NBA right now.