Greg Ballard vs. Damian Lillard Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Damian Lillard and Greg Ballard, from their rookie seasons to their last year played, in chronological order with awards, stats, championships and playoff performance of their teams every year.

Player comparisons:
Career comparison / Season by season

Who had the better rookie season? Who had best stats in their 10th season? Who won a championship first? These questions and many others, are answered here.

Greg Ballard played 11 years in the NBA, 1 less than Damian Lillard, who played 12. Greg Ballard had the first of his seasons in 1977-78, while Damian Lillard had his rookie season in 2012-13. With that starting point, here you can take a look at each of their seasons side by side and compare how their careers evolved in achivements, awards and championships won, the stats they recorded both in the Regular Season and the Playoffs and how their teams performed in the postseason.

Their Careers

Player
Total Seasons Playoffs Played NBA Years
Greg Ballard 11 7 1977-78 to 1988-89
Damian Lillard 12 9 2012-13 to 2023-24

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12

Rookie Season

Greg Ballard Damian Lillard
Season 1977-782012-13
Team Washington BulletsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Rookie of the Year
-Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Greg Ballard 76 12.3 4.9 1.3 2.2 3.5 0.8 0.4 0.2 0.8 1.2 1.9 4.4 .425 - - - 1.2 1.5 .772
Damian Lillard 82 38.6 19.0 0.5 2.6 3.1 6.5 0.9 0.2 3.0 2.1 6.7 15.7 .429 2.3 6.1 .368 3.3 3.9 .844
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Greg Ballard 19 12.8 3.9 1.4 2.7 4.2 0.9 0.5 0.2 0.7 1.5 1.1 3.3 .333 - - - 1.7 2.2 .780
Damian Lillard ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Greg Ballard Damian Lillard
Season 1978-792013-14
Team Washington BulletsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bullets Lost NBA FinalsTrail Blazers Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Greg Ballard 82 18.9 7.8 1.7 3.7 5.5 1.4 0.7 0.4 1.2 2.0 3.2 6.8 .465 - - - 1.5 2.1 .692
Damian Lillard 82 35.8 20.7 0.4 3.1 3.5 5.6 0.8 0.3 2.4 2.4 6.7 15.9 .424 2.7 6.8 .394 4.5 5.2 .871
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Greg Ballard 19 16.4 7.2 1.8 3.1 4.8 0.9 0.5 0.3 1.1 1.5 2.8 5.3 .525 - - - 1.6 2.2 .756
Damian Lillard 11 42.4 22.9 1.1 4.0 5.1 6.5 1.0 0.1 2.7 2.6 7.5 17.2 .439 2.5 6.4 .386 5.4 6.0 .894

Season 3

Greg Ballard Damian Lillard
Season 1979-802014-15
Team Washington BulletsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bullets Lost East Conf 1st RdTrail Blazers Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Greg Ballard 82 29.7 15.6 2.9 4.9 7.8 1.9 1.1 0.4 1.6 2.4 6.6 13.4 .495 0.2 0.6 .340 2.1 2.8 .753
Damian Lillard 82 35.7 21.0 0.6 4.0 4.6 6.2 1.2 0.3 2.7 2.0 7.2 16.6 .434 2.4 7.0 .343 4.2 4.9 .864
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Greg Ballard 2 36.5 11.0 1.0 6.0 7.0 3.5 0.5 0.5 4.0 4.0 4.5 14.0 .321 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 3.5 .571
Damian Lillard 5 40.2 21.6 0.4 3.6 4.0 4.6 0.4 0.6 2.4 3.0 7.8 19.2 .406 1.0 6.2 .161 5.0 6.4 .781

Season 4

Greg Ballard Damian Lillard
Season 1980-812015-16
Team Washington BulletsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayTrail Blazers Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Greg Ballard 82 31.8 15.5 2.0 5.0 7.1 2.4 1.4 0.5 1.4 2.4 6.7 14.5 .463 0.1 0.4 .219 2.0 2.4 .847
Damian Lillard 75 35.7 25.1 0.6 3.4 4.0 6.8 0.9 0.4 3.2 2.2 8.2 19.7 .419 3.1 8.1 .375 5.5 6.2 .892
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Greg Ballard ------- --- ----------
Damian Lillard 11 39.7 26.5 1.1 3.2 4.3 6.3 1.3 0.3 3.0 2.1 8.1 22.0 .368 3.8 9.7 .393 6.5 7.1 .910

Season 5

Greg Ballard Damian Lillard
Season 1981-822016-17
Team Washington BulletsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bullets Lost East Conf SemisTrail Blazers Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Greg Ballard 79 37.3 18.8 1.7 6.3 8.0 3.2 1.7 0.3 1.5 2.6 7.9 16.5 .475 0.1 0.3 .409 3.0 3.6 .830
Damian Lillard 75 35.9 27.0 0.6 4.3 4.9 5.9 0.9 0.3 2.6 2.0 8.8 19.8 .444 2.9 7.7 .370 6.5 7.3 .895
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Greg Ballard 7 38.3 13.3 3.1 5.9 9.0 3.1 2.0 0.4 1.7 2.9 5.1 14.3 .360 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 3.6 .840
Damian Lillard 4 37.8 27.8 1.0 3.5 4.5 3.3 1.3 0.5 3.3 2.8 9.8 22.5 .433 2.3 8.0 .281 6.0 6.3 .960

Season 6

Greg Ballard Damian Lillard
Season 1982-832017-18
Team Washington BulletsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayTrail Blazers Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Greg Ballard 78 36.4 18.0 1.6 4.9 6.5 3.4 1.7 0.3 2.0 2.3 7.7 16.3 .473 0.2 0.5 .351 2.3 3.0 .781
Damian Lillard 73 36.6 26.9 0.8 3.6 4.5 6.6 1.1 0.4 2.8 1.6 8.5 19.4 .439 3.1 8.6 .361 6.8 7.4 .916
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Greg Ballard ------- --- ----------
Damian Lillard 4 40.5 18.5 0.8 3.8 4.5 4.8 1.3 0.0 4.0 2.0 6.3 17.8 .352 2.3 7.5 .300 3.8 4.3 .882

Season 7

Greg Ballard Damian Lillard
Season 1983-842018-19
Team Washington BulletsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bullets Lost East Conf 1st RdTrail Blazers Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Greg Ballard 82 32.9 14.5 1.7 4.2 6.0 3.5 1.1 0.4 1.7 2.6 6.2 12.9 .481 0.0 0.2 .133 2.0 2.5 .798
Damian Lillard 80 35.5 25.8 0.9 3.8 4.6 6.9 1.1 0.4 2.7 1.9 8.5 19.2 .444 3.0 8.0 .369 5.9 6.4 .912
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Greg Ballard 4 42.0 16.5 1.8 4.3 6.0 3.5 1.8 0.8 2.0 3.0 6.8 14.8 .458 0.0 0.3 .000 3.0 3.3 .923
Damian Lillard 16 40.6 26.9 0.5 4.3 4.8 6.6 1.7 0.3 3.8 2.5 8.6 20.6 .418 3.7 9.9 .373 5.9 7.1 .833

Season 8

Greg Ballard Damian Lillard
Season 1984-852019-20
Team Washington BulletsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bullets Lost East Conf 1st RdTrail Blazers Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Greg Ballard 82 32.5 13.1 1.8 4.6 6.5 2.5 1.2 0.4 1.3 2.7 5.7 11.9 .480 0.2 0.6 .304 1.5 1.8 .795
Damian Lillard 66 37.5 30.0 0.5 3.8 4.3 8.0 1.1 0.3 2.9 1.7 9.5 20.4 .463 4.1 10.2 .401 7.0 7.8 .888
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Greg Ballard 4 16.3 7.5 1.0 2.5 3.5 1.5 0.8 0.0 1.3 1.8 2.8 6.0 .458 0.0 0.5 .000 2.0 2.3 .889
Damian Lillard 4 35.8 24.3 0.3 3.3 3.5 4.3 0.5 0.3 3.5 1.0 6.5 16.0 .406 3.3 8.3 .394 8.0 8.3 .970

Season 9

Greg Ballard Damian Lillard
Season 1985-862020-21
Team Golden State WarriorsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayTrail Blazers Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Greg Ballard 75 23.9 8.8 1.8 3.8 5.6 1.1 0.9 0.1 0.7 2.3 3.6 7.6 .477 0.2 0.5 .486 1.3 1.7 .802
Damian Lillard 67 35.8 28.8 0.5 3.7 4.2 7.5 0.9 0.3 3.0 1.5 9.0 19.9 .451 4.1 10.5 .391 6.7 7.2 .928
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Greg Ballard ------- --- ----------
Damian Lillard 6 41.3 34.3 0.2 4.2 4.3 10.2 1.0 0.7 2.2 1.5 10.3 22.3 .463 5.8 13.0 .449 7.8 8.3 .940

Season 10

Greg Ballard Damian Lillard
Season 1986-872021-22
Team Golden State WarriorsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Warriors Lost West Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Greg Ballard 82 19.3 7.1 1.2 2.9 4.1 1.3 0.6 0.2 0.9 2.0 3.0 6.9 .440 0.2 0.5 .375 0.8 1.1 .747
Damian Lillard 29 36.4 24.0 0.4 3.7 4.1 7.3 0.6 0.4 2.9 1.3 7.7 19.0 .402 3.2 9.8 .324 5.5 6.2 .878
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Greg Ballard 10 17.9 5.9 1.8 2.2 4.0 1.9 0.8 0.0 0.9 1.6 2.6 4.8 .542 0.4 1.0 .400 0.3 0.4 .750
Damian Lillard ------- --- ----------

Note: Greg Ballard didn't play in 1987-88.

Season 11

Greg Ballard Damian Lillard
Season 1988-892022-23
Team Seattle SupersonicsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Greg Ballard 2 7.5 3.0 1.0 2.5 3.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.5 0.5 4.0 .125 0.0 0.5 .000 2.0 2.0 1.000
Damian Lillard 58 36.3 32.2 0.8 4.0 4.8 7.3 0.9 0.3 3.3 1.9 9.6 20.7 .463 4.2 11.3 .371 8.8 9.6 .914
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Greg Ballard ------- --- ----------
Damian Lillard ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Greg Ballard Damian Lillard
Season -2023-24
Team -Milwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs -Bucks Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Greg Ballard ------- --- ----------
Damian Lillard 73 35.3 24.3 0.5 3.9 4.4 7.0 1.0 0.2 2.6 1.8 7.4 17.5 .424 3.0 8.5 .354 6.5 7.0 .920
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Greg Ballard ------- --- ----------
Damian Lillard 4 39.0 31.3 0.5 2.8 3.3 5.0 1.0 0.0 2.3 2.0 8.5 20.3 .420 5.0 12.0 .417 9.3 9.5 .974