Last summer was unlike any other offseason Damian Lillard had ever been through. Apart from having to turn his back on the Portland Trail Blazers after spending 11 years of his career with the organization and the city, the 33-year-old also had to go through a nasty divorce with his estranged wife, Kay’La Lillard.
Dame admits that this was without a doubt one of the toughest periods of his life.
Damian Lillard Speaks Out on Milwaukee Bucks Transition
While Lillard’s trade request grabbed headlines, his divorce proceedings had to be kept under wraps. Dame had to turn to his family, a small circle of friends, and Bible study to help him get by. His situation also meant that he couldn’t train as hard as he wanted to during the offseason.
“[I did] stuff that wouldn’t make me feel overwhelmed. It can be because we all got feelings,” Lillard said, via Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports. “We all have stuff we really care about, near and dear to our heart. I’m happy I’m a stable person, I got solid people around me.
“It’s probably been the hardest transition in my life, all things considered.”
Dame has been through quite a lot in his life so for him to say that this was the “hardest transition” he’s ever had to go through speaks volumes.
Then again, it’s not all that surprising considering how he had to split up with his former team and his wife at the same time.
Moving On
The burden and the difficulties of Lillard’s transition have carried over to how he’s acclimatized himself with the Bucks. This has been far from easy, too.
The eight-time All-Star admits that he’s still a work in progress but at the end of the day, he remains confident that Milwaukee still has what it takes to reach its ultimate objectives this season:
“I could be doing things better. But we’re second in the East,” Lillard said. “It ain’t about individual performance. How can I contribute to a champion? We’re gonna have a chance.”
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