All-time great ranking: Klay Thompson vs. Damian Lillard?

dygaction · Post #1 » by **dygaction** » Mon Sep 22, 2025 7:10 pm

If both retire today, who do you have ahead?

Post #2 » by **Mavrelous** » Mon Sep 22, 2025 7:12 pm

Definitely Dame, Dame was voted to the top75 team BTW, Klay wasn't.

KGtabake · Post #3 » by **KGtabake** » Mon Sep 22, 2025 7:19 pm

Mavrelous wrote:Definitely Dame, Dame was voted to the top75 team BTW, Klay wasn't.

Well that doesn't say much.
Dwight Howard wasn't voted to the top75 but i think we all know he should be in.

On the question. It's Klay for me.
One of the top3 shooters in history, integral part of the game's last dynasty (and for some best team ever)

Post #4 » by **Mavrelous** » Mon Sep 22, 2025 7:26 pm

KGtabake wrote:
Mavrelous wrote:Definitely Dame, Dame was voted to the top75 team BTW, Klay wasn't.

Well that doesn't say much.
Dwight Howard wasn't voted to the top75 but i think we all know he should be in.

On the question. It's Klay for me.
One of the top3 shooters in history, integral part of the game's last dynasty (and for some best team ever)

It does speak to their standing in the league, their accolades (all NBA and MVP votes) aren't close.

JJ_PR · Post #5 » by **JJ_PR** » Mon Sep 22, 2025 7:32 pm

The gap in talent and invididual play is way smaller than the gap in accolades. I got Klay in this one.

chilluminati · Post #6 » by **chilluminati** » Mon Sep 22, 2025 7:38 pm

The battle of team success vs individual success. Most will probably side with Klay as he's won rings and that matters most to the general fan. Klay has had a very Manu-like career in terms of role and success. Players like Manu when it's all said and done are definitely more revered than those who put up stats and couldn't win.

WiggOuts · Post #7 » by **WiggOuts** » Mon Sep 22, 2025 7:56 pm

I can't believe some people actually think Klay has an argument here. Klay was a 2nd scoring option but he was entirely a complimentary player, he could barely dribble, draymond controlled the ball more than him. I love Klay but he's a 3+D player, albeit a great one, he didn't have the talent to do much outside of that

What do you think would happen if Klay tried to perform in Dames role. Dame is a primary scoring option, he took on the opponents best defenders night in and night out and always had the ball in his hands creating offense.

These guys are not equal, don't let team success blur those lines

Maxthirty · Post #8 » by **Maxthirty** » Mon Sep 22, 2025 8:07 pm

I mean, neither is going to win you a championship as your best player. But Klay is way more portable on offense and just a much better defender than Dame.

I’ll take Klay.

Edit: I misread(didn’t read) the thread title

PostGameDaVinci · Post #9 » by **PostGameDaVinci** » Mon Sep 22, 2025 8:11 pm

Easily Dame. Klay is the GOAT 3&D player. He's never been the focus of an NBA defense. Klay won chips as the 3rd best player on his team, at best. Dame never had that level of talent around him.

Dame is also the better shooter. He's the 2nd GOAT shooter. Maintaining efficiency with his shot diet & level of defensive attention is way more impressive than Klay's catch & shoot.

eminence · Post #10 » by **eminence** » Mon Sep 22, 2025 8:29 pm

Dame, not all that close.

shanedude · Post #11 » by **shanedude** » Mon Sep 22, 2025 8:30 pm

I'll take Klay if the goal is to win a championship. Obvs as a complimentary player not the bus driver.

DavidSterned · Post #12 » by **DavidSterned** » Mon Sep 22, 2025 8:35 pm

I swear, some people on here would probably try to argue Derek Fisher over Dame because of the inane "Rangzzzz!!!!11" arguments.

sikma42 · Post #13 » by **sikma42** » Mon Sep 22, 2025 8:40 pm

PostGameDaVinci wrote:Easily Dame. Klay is the GOAT [emoji[emoji[emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]]]]&D player. He's never been the focus of an NBA defense. Klay won chips as the [emoji[emoji[emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]]]]rd best player on his team, at best. Dame never had that level of talent around him.

Dame is also the better shooter. He's the [emoji[emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emojnd GOAT shooter. Maintaining efficiency with his shot diet & level of defensive attention is way more impressive than Klay's catch & shoot.

Assume Klay was the focus of teams defense. How would they guard him any differently? He was running off several screens at a time..they gonna double him off screens at the three point line. There really isn’t a playbook where more defensive attention looks that much different for Klay…

IMO they both aren’t winning titles as number one options. Klay already won as a second option. I’ve have concerns about Dame as a second option due to several passes he can’t make, which are required as a primary ball handler. With that said, give me Klay.

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JN61 · Post #14 » by **JN61** » Mon Sep 22, 2025 9:04 pm

shanedude wrote:I'll take Klay if the goal is to win a championship. Obvs as a complimentary player not the bus driver.

Well this is one of those cases where Thompson could have absolutely been leader of mediocre teams like lillard but he lucked out with top 5 Pg of all time

Asianiac_24 · Post #15 » by **Asianiac_24** » Mon Sep 22, 2025 9:08 pm

Dame was a much better player than Klay

Post #16 » by **cupcakesnake** » Mon Sep 22, 2025 9:27 pm

Klay is a really good player. All-time great shooter who could play a useful defensive role in his prime.

He's a little overrated by some for being on such great teams. I don't see him historically stacking up against the all-time greats. Dame has a much larger offensive footprint, he just didn't play on good teams.

dk1115 · Post #17 » by **dk1115** » Mon Sep 22, 2025 9:27 pm

imagine if klay and draymond never played with steph curry

Maxthirty · Post #18 » by **Maxthirty** » Mon Sep 22, 2025 10:30 pm

dk1115 wrote:imagine if klay and draymond never played with steph curry

Everybody loses in that scenario.

Roger Murdock · Post #19 » by **Roger Murdock** » Mon Sep 22, 2025 10:40 pm

Dame by a mile

Dame got 2 seasons with Giannis while both battled injuries

Klay has spent a career as the third or fourth best player on his team, and the entirety of that run he’s had 1 player that is considerably better than him, and had 3 seasons with Durant as well

If you swap places the Warriors win more titles and the Blazers miss the playoff every year

MrBigShot · Post #20 » by **MrBigShot** » Mon Sep 22, 2025 10:47 pm

Dame easily.

There is a huge difference in peak impact, and Klay's championships as a complementary player, 3 of which he was the 4th most important player on the team, don't make up for the gap.

People are going to end up forgetting how good peak Dame was because we never got to see him compete for a championship.