Damian Lillard Scores 18,041 To Pass Clyde Drexler As The All-Time Blazers Scorer Amidst Humbling Loss To Shai-Gilgeous Alexander And Thunder

Damian Lillard was drafted 6th overall by the Portland Trailblazers in 2012 out of a relatively unknown university in Weber State. He proved his worth as a franchise guard almost immediately as he won Rookie of the Year honors while also being a deadly force in the clutch. 

As Lamarcus Aldridge made his way to the Spurs, Dame was anointed as the undisputed leader of the Blazers. For over a decade now, ‘The Letter O’ has been in a Blazers uniform leading charge to hopefully, one day, bring a championship to the city that took a chance on him. 

There have been a few hurdles along the way when it comes to him potentially wanting out of the organization. This was most prominent during the Olympics last year but as showcased by him still being a Blazer to this day, nothing substantial came of it.

Also read: 21 Points Away From Clyde Drexler, Damian Lillard Refuses To Believe He Isn’t In The Stephen Curry ‘GOAT Shooter’ Discussion

Damian Lillard passes Clyde Drexler as the all-time leading scorer in Blazers history 

Damian Lillard has achieved something no Portland Trailblazer has been able to accomplish and that was to score more than 18,040 points in a Blazers uniform. Clyde ‘The Glide’ Drexler did so and now, Damian Lillard has surpassed him in a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. 

After tying that number with a deep right wing 3, he would pass Drexler with 18,041 regular season points at the charity stripe after a hard drive to the rim and getting fouled. OKC Thunder fans recognized the accomplishment and actually gave a standing ovation to the man that ended the Russell Westbrook era with a 37-foot Game 5 triple 3 years ago.

Damian Lillard is the @trailblazers all-time leading scorer!

Congrats, @Dame_Lillard! pic.twitter.com/s5B47X3JTQ

— NBA (@NBA) December 20, 2022

Everybody from Dame’s wife, Kayla, to his father, Houston, were in attendance to watch the moment live. Unfortunately for the Lillard fam and the Blazers, the Thunder would get a small bit of revenge for that fateful 2019 first round series after beating them tonight off a 35-point effort from Shai-Gilgeous and his buzzer-beating fadeaway. 

Is Damian Lillard the greatest Blazer of all time? 

Any GOAT debate that has ever existed is one that is highly subjective. When talking about players that are of the caliber of Clyde Drexler and Damian Lillard, men who have achieved as much as they have in the NBA, the debate gets even more convoluted. 

It all boils down to what you value more. If you want the glorious moments such as Dame’s 2 buzzer beating, series winning game winners in the Playoffs, he’s your guy. Also he’s now the all-time leading scorer in team history so that helps. 

Drexler however, led the Blazers to two NBA Finals, which is something Dame has never done. Though, if you value Finals trips, then why not value a championship because the only man who has ever led PDX to a title is Bill Walton in 1977 so perhaps he’s your GOAT.

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