Damian Lillard

Damian Lillard is the greatest clutch shooter from distance in NBA history. His series-ending buzzer-beaters — the 2014 first-round winner against Houston and the 2019 epic from 37 feet to eliminate Oklahoma City — are two of the most iconic postseason shots ever made. The wave goodbye to OKC after the 37-footer is one of basketball's defining images of the 2010s.

Lillard spent 11 seasons in Portland, carrying the Trail Blazers to the playoffs eight times and the Western Conference Finals in 2019. His loyalty to a small-market franchise made him one of the most beloved players in the league, and his refusal to demand a trade for years — even as the Blazers' roster declined — earned him respect across the basketball world. When he finally moved to Milwaukee, he won a championship in 2025, rewarding his patience.

Lillard's deep three-point range changed how defenses played him. He regularly pulled up from the logo — 35-plus feet — and hit those shots with enough frequency to make them legitimate weapons. His 71-point game against Houston in 2023 and his scoring consistency over a 12-year stretch averaging 25+ points per game put him among the elite offensive guards in NBA history.