2. Damian Lillard
What Damian Lillard does for the Portland Trail Blazers is very reminiscent of what Kobe Bryant did for the Los Angeles Lakers from 2005 to 2008. There are no 81-point games for Lillard, but he is the definition of having ice in his veins as he is carrying the entire franchise on his back with insane performances.
Lillard is also similar to Kobe in the sense that his peers really respect him and his craft. Kobe was immensely respected throughout the league and it is safe to say that Dame is as well. He set the entire NBA world on fire with his Game 7 performance vs. Denver, after all.
Nobody has more clutch game-winners on their resume in the league right now than Damian Lillard, who has hit big playoff shot after big playoff shot for Portland. It is a shame that Portland could never provide him with the right supporting cast to make a real NBA Finals run.
There is speculation that Lillard could want out of Portland this offseason but he has shown nothing but intents of being loyal thus far in his career. He has openly criticized players joining forces in the NBA and signed a four-year extension with Portland. That will take him through his 13th year in the league.
Lillard is a natural-born scorer like Kobe. He does not have the same post moves and footwork that Kobe or even Jayson Tatum have, but he is lethal from beyond the arc with Stephen Curry being the only one that can outshoot him at that high of a volume.
His playoff numbers speak for themselves. Lillard is a career 25.7/6.2/4.5 playoff performer and in his seven playoff games this year he averaged 34.3 points, 10.2 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game.
He is absolutely elite and has been loyal to a fault thus far. He just has to win something and hope that Portland can make a move similar to the Lakers adding Pau Gasol for Kobe.