Paul George Revises Criticism of Lillard’s Long-Range Exploits

Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard made a splash in the 2021 NBA All-Star Game with 32 points. Of those 32 points, Lillard saved his best for last. As the contest between Team LeBron and Team Durant inched toward the target score, Lillard put the game on ice with a three-point heave from the half-court line.

In case you missed it, here is another look at Lillard’s late-game heroics:

After the game, fellow Team LeBron reserve Paul George revisited his previous criticism of Lillard’s long-range ability. In the 2019 postseason, Lillard dispatched the Thunder team that George was a part of with a memorable 37-foot three-pointer. George, who was tasked with guarding Lillard on that play, labelled the attempt as a “bad shot” during his postgame interview.

Lillard’s latest exploits seemed to have shifted George’s outlook. Following Sunday’s result, George admitted that he might have been wrong about his initial critique of Lillard’s range.

George logged 26 minutes in Sunday’s showcase event. During his time on the floor, he recorded 17 points—trailing only Lillard and Jaylen Brown among the reserves on Team LeBron.