Penny vs. Dame - who is the greater player?

[72-10]

With Lillard finally having played about the same number of playoff games as Penny now, I thought this would be a good poll

Penny vs. Big Game Dame

[ScalsFan21]

Through sheer force of longevity, Dame's career will blow Penny's out of the water when it's all said and done. Peaks are comparable (to the extent Penny was able to reach his), but Hardaway's a tough guy to evaluate with what that knee did to him. Lillard's significantly better offensively.

[72-10]

Before Penny got injured (through those games), he has exactly the same Win Shares per 48 Minutes as Lillard's career has had. For both of their careers, Penny has more rebounds, assists, steals and blocked shots with about as many turnovers on a lower turnover rate, while in the playoffs, Penny has more points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocked shots despite playing about the same number of games as Dame has. Penny made the NBA Finals, played on a 64-18 team, once posted a 39-2 home court record with the Magic, things Dame cannot claim.

[ScalsFan21]

Before Penny got injured (through those games), he has exactly the same Win Shares per 48 Minutes as Lillard's career has had. For both of their careers, Penny has more rebounds, assists, steals and blocked shots with about as many turnovers on a lower turnover rate, while in the playoffs, Penny has more points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocked shots despite playing about the same number of games as Dame has. Penny made the NBA Finals, played on a 64-18 team, once posted a 39-2 home court record with the Magic, things Dame cannot claim.

Sure, but I have no doubt that Shaquille O'Neal, Damian Lillard, and the mid-90s Magic could have hit those same three marks together.

Some of those stats are off though. For example, Lillard has way more points in way less games, both on average and in total though.

[72-10]

cringe

misread 64 as 54 games for Penny. Still, I doubt he'll pass Penny in anything but scoring by then.

[72-10]

Penny was also an A defender. He got All-Defensive votes his first four years in the league.

[eliteballer]

Uh this isn't even a question.

Penny was an All-NBA First Team player. Dame isn't on that level.

[ScalsFan21]

Uh this isn't even a question.

Penny was an All-NBA First Team player. Dame isn't on that level.

Even if we went by first-team selections, he was only at that level a few years (due to his injury), and Penny also wasn't up against guys like Curry etc. This is arguably the most PG-heavy era.

You're saying the defensive gap is wide enough to cancel out what will likely be at least 4-6 more years of this type of elite production from Lillard? Maybe you're right tbh. But I do think it's close if we compare what Penny did to what Lillard likely will do.

[CTbasketball92]

Dame's been a legit top 10 or so player for about three seasons now (maybe closer to two) and he's a guy that can get 26/6/5 on 60 TS% consistently and not be awful on defense. If Portland had Blake Griffin they'd be in championship contention. Even Kevin Love would be very helpful as a third scoring option/floor spacer honestly.

I say all this to say that when you weigh in peaks and longevity, this is sort of close. I'd give the edge to Penny in terms of peak so far, by half-a-notch because of defense and size. That said, Dame's showing no signs of slowing down. He's got four all-nba selections, one first, in the most stacked era for point guards I can remember. He'll likely get at least two or three more all-nba nods minimum.

He's sneakily going to end up being a top 50 player ever by the numbers.

[Uncle Drew]

Damian Lillard might be the most overrated player I've seen in many, many years. Only because he hits a clutch shot every now and then he gets some sort of superstar treatment, well in reality he is a godawful playoff performer that gets carried to Conference Finals'.

[Bronbron23]

With Lillard finally having played about the same number of playoff games as Penny now, I thought this would be a good poll

Penny vs. Big Game Dame

Career will be dame because of Penny's injuries. Peak is penny all day. Was as good a scorer but he was better at everything else including defence where he was much better

[jayfan]

Let's put it this way....

If you put them in a draft and erase all injuries, nobody is taking Lillard over Penny.


.

[Phoenix]

In other words, 96 Penny vs current Dame. Obviously their careers aren't comparable due to injury.

[stalkerforlife]

Dame.

Penny exposed after Shaq.

[stalkerforlife]

Looked at the numbers.

Wow.

Penny fell off a cliff after Shaq.

One of the most overrated players ever.