Discussion
Stephen A.: There isn’t ‘any question’ Damian Lillard is underappreciated | First Take
Stephen A. Smith and Max Kellerman discuss whether Portland Trail Blazers PG Damian Lillard is under-appreciated following Dallas Mavericks PG Luka Doncic being named as an NBA All-Star starter over Lillard. #FirstTake #NBA More on ESPN.com:
Navarre Gallant
February 20, 2021 at 8:24 am
Me in the Alantic thinking it’s the weekend and I can watch the Blazers game… yet it’s a 11:30pm
Davide M. Gomez
February 20, 2021 at 9:23 am
I appreciate him as a player, but you gotta admit it is up to him, he chose to stay in a small market and do the things the hard way, which is admirable but these are the consequences, he would not be getting that much money and opportunities elsewhere also…
sniper666hell
February 20, 2021 at 9:26 am
Fan vote shouldn’t be a deciding factor. Fans can very due to population. Stupidest thing the league has done. This is all catering to people who are already fans of the sport instead of drawing new fans to the sport. Should be fan vote is 13, media vote is 13 and player vote is 13. Simple and sensible.
De'Armond Mitchell
February 20, 2021 at 9:52 am
Portland is in the same time zone as the Warriors, lakers, and clippers. There’s no way that they can constantly be on prime time games and it’s not “too late” but the blazers games somehow are.
Ville Johansson
February 20, 2021 at 10:48 am
Back it up then Stephen A.!! Give Dame your actual vote for MVP!!!
John Williams
February 20, 2021 at 10:58 am
It’s annoying that real ones like Dame get slighted, and he doesn’t even want to abandon POR. It’s sad that society thinks that the size of the market determines a players greatness.
Ovando Graham
February 20, 2021 at 11:02 am
Damian lillard has the worst winning percentage in the playoffs for the superstars today. Lillard has hit 2 first round game winners. CJ beat the nuggets and they got swept by Steph curry. Soo he’s not underrated he’s great but he don’t win
James Glimco
February 20, 2021 at 11:39 am
I still think Dame should’ve started over Doncic but Mavs fans are gonna disagree
Tee M
February 20, 2021 at 1:17 pm
Can you guys imagine this lineup of guys who never won a ring
Lillard
Nash
Barkley
Prime dwight howard
Shawn marion
I know there not huge names like most fantasy made starting 5s but I bet they would win alot of games ..they have shooting defense toughness iq
Xn Pk85
February 20, 2021 at 1:22 pm
LAVAR BALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN NAMED AN ALL STAR STARTER
Jacob J.
February 20, 2021 at 1:40 pm
Lillard’s entire career has been driven by him proving those who have underappreciated, overlooked, and disrespected him. If Lillard wanted more nationwide attention, he would’ve left portland the first chance he got.
Portland has been very unlucky with missing out on some of the best players of all time
They didn’t draft Jordan because they already had Drexler
They selected Oden over Durant
They had one of the brightest stars in Brandon Roy but knee injuries prevented him from being that long term player for portland
In 2012, Portland could’ve easily passed up on Lillard yet they saw something in him that no one else did.
Lillard has repaid them by reviving portland and making them a relevant team these past 5-6 years.
Dalton Weidman
February 20, 2021 at 1:57 pm
Dallas a bigger city than Portland not too much of a surprise sadly
Mark Smith
February 20, 2021 at 2:12 pm
Couldn’t care less about Dame hitting game winning shots in meaningless games . He may be the best closer but he can’t get you over the top so does it even matter. And stop comparing him to Steph. “He’s hit more game winners than Steph” ok and Steph wasn’t even playing 4th quarters for over a year because the game was already over so what’s your point?
Owo Char
February 20, 2021 at 2:13 pm
Dame Time = Lame Time.
DEZN94
February 20, 2021 at 4:15 pm
😑
Body Soul Spirit
February 20, 2021 at 2:25 pm
I take it back. Top disrespected superstars in the league. #1. DAME TIME. #2. The claw. #3 Pg13 #4 The Beard
drew johnson
February 20, 2021 at 3:18 pm
Fans didn’t vote for Dame because the Media doesn’t cover him the way they cover Luka / Curry / LeBron. Give this man more attention and more fans will notice him.
Daniel Giustini Perez
February 20, 2021 at 3:23 pm
0:13 I love how Giannis always gets a smaller font-size when he shows up in charts
K-lyps0
February 20, 2021 at 4:40 pm
If blazers end with a better record than the warriors then dame is first team all nba
Zach
February 20, 2021 at 5:07 pm
Thank you Max. Borderline over-appreciated. His career accomplishments to this point? A couple of (albeit incredible) game winners, some all star games, aaaaaaand that’s about it.
Sofa KinHot
February 20, 2021 at 6:30 pm
Let’s get something straight, The FANS are the customers, not the media or the players. The FANS are the ones who are paying to watch. For those who don’t understand… No FANS = No $$. I don’t want to hear people complain about how fans are voting. It’s our right to vote for who we like, regardless of time zone.
Brian Ofori
February 20, 2021 at 6:39 pm
Dame is really just the Gilbert Arenas of this era. Yes he strikes fear but he’s just a notch under the legendary players of the era, and just low enough to be overshadowed by the soon to be legendary players of the next era. At least he’s better than Westbrook though
DPadio
February 20, 2021 at 6:47 pm
Overall its a popularity contest, not an appreciation contest. Besides, both media and players picked Dame, so it’s hard to say he is under-appreciated.
makeouthill
February 20, 2021 at 7:07 pm
He needs to leave Portland
Tory Reddin
February 20, 2021 at 7:36 pm
Now That He Has The Largest Contract Ever That Name Dame Dolla Make Alot More Sense
Chad H
February 20, 2021 at 8:53 pm
Did he just say “the games are on very late?” lol like the rest of the starting 5 are all from the east coast– Dame is the best and it pisses me off being a local there is a problem with getting Dame in this all star game year after year– like they dont want him in the game or something.. well its all good every1 from the northwest knows who the best is.. put 3k on dame for mvp