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Trail Blazers: Paul Pierce lists Damian Lillard among his “five scariest players to guard”

PORTLAND, OR - APRIL 29: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers stares down Paul Pierce #34 of the Los Angeles Clippers late in the fourth quarter of Game Six of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2016 NBA Playoffs at the Moda Center on April 29, 2016 in Portland, Oregon. The Blazers won 106-103. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR - APRIL 29: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers stares down Paul Pierce #34 of the Los Angeles Clippers late in the fourth quarter of Game Six of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2016 NBA Playoffs at the Moda Center on April 29, 2016 in Portland, Oregon. The Blazers won 106-103. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)

Future Hall of Famer Paul Pierce listed his “five scariest players to guard” in today’s NBA. Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard was among those mentioned.

One could make the argument that Paul Pierce’s playing career spanned across the two most talented eras in pro basketball. Having guarded players like Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady, and LeBron James on a nightly basis, he’s no stranger to offensive talent. Yesterday on ESPN’s The Jump, the future Hall of Famer crafted a “scariest players to guard,” list with Damian Lillard among the first chosen.

On a Halloween-themed edition, Pierce named five different offensive stars in today’s NBA that he believed were the toughest to keep tabs on. Pierce started with Laker great LeBron James, and then praised Lillard. He had this to say of the Portland Trail Blazers‘ megastar:

"“When I see this guy hitting walk-off (jumpers) from half court, and you’re on a SportsCenter highlight reel, and then waving goodbye to put you out the Playoffs, that’s scary. I don’t wanna be on Dame Lillard’s highlight tape, getting busted up, going home.”"

For those curious, the other three mentioned were: Brooklyn Nets superstars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, and James Harden, an all-time great from the Houston Rockets. The video can be found below:

Pierce providing elusive praise for LeBron James is clearly the highlight story, especially given their history. But for a franchise as snake bitten as the Trail Blazers are, it likely never gets old to think about just how fortunate Portland is to have a player who revered by his legendary peers.

Pierce has somewhat of a penchant for controversial remarks, but his list appears spot-on in this regard. There are cases for glaring omissions like Kawhi Leonard and Luka Doncic, but Damian Lillard certainly deserves his spot on the list.

This season, Lillard joined Michael Jordan and Stephen Curry as the only players in NBA history to average 30 points per game on 40 percent shooting from 3-point range. And his ability to translate that into postseason play can’t be understated. Just as reassuring, Lillard had by far the most efficient season of his career as a 29-year-old.

Chalk it up as more praise for the five-time All-NBA star guard. He’s poised to continue making lists of all calibers, should be maintain this level of play in 2020-21.