Lillard doesn't care for Curry comparisons: 'I'm my own man'

A comment intended as a compliment turned into extra motivation for Damian Lillard.

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr unintentionally created a stir in February by comparing the Blazers point guard to his own MVP, Stephen Curry, after Portland beat Golden State 137-105. While Kerr's comment was meant to be flattering, it didn't sit well with Lillard.

"I've got a lot of respect for Steve Kerr," Lillard said to Joe Freeman of OregonLive. "But when he said I looked like Steph Curry, I didn't like that either. It might seem like a compliment coming from him and how he meant it. But I didn't like that either. If anybody had a good game against us, I don't think coach (Terry) Stotts would go and say, 'He looked like Damian Lillard.' So it depends on how you want to look at it."

Lillard has seemingly made it his mission to prove his doubters wrong after his All-Star snub, averaging 33.5 points since the break.

"I respect Steph Curry, because what he's doing is amazing," Lillard said. "But I'm my own man. So don't come to me and say I'm impersonating him. You telling me I'm impersonating somebody by doing well at my job is disrespectful."

Comparisons between the two are hard to avoid, as both players are high-scoring point guards playing at an All-NBA level.

"I just think you respect the man as the man that they are," Lillard added. "You can respect what Steph Curry's doing and love what Steph Curry's doing. But that has nothing to do with me. I'm my own man."

Lillard will have an opportunity to prove himself again on Friday night with the Blazers set for a rematch against the Warriors at Oracle Arena.