Monday’s outing against the New York Knicks will mark the second time in his career that Milwaukee Bucks superstar point guard Damian Lillard played on Christmas Day. In 2018, Dame also played on December 25 while he was still with the Portland Trail Blazers.
This year was a little bit different, though, as the seven-time All-Star suited up for the Bucks on Christmas for the first time.
Milwaukee Bucks’ Damian Lillard Reflects on Christmas Day Outing
Much like the rest of the basketball world, Lillard also appreciates how special Christmas Day games are in the NBA. This is arguably the most significant regular-season day on the NBA’s calendar, and to be part of it is a real honor.
Dame revealed, however, that he has one regret about this year’s rendition:
“I think just growing up watching the Christmas games,” Lillard said ahead of Monday’s bout against the Knicks. “It’s a special day, it’s a special opportunity to be able to do that. I wish they still did the Christmas uniforms and had a whole thing around Christmas. But just being able to do it, I ‘m sure everybody loves the fact they can play on Christmas. It’s a prime-time game. Even when it’s a team with a bad record, or a team that’s not considered a high-level team, those games still have the energy of a real game. We get to participate. It’s been awhile, I think it’s been four years since I last played on Christmas. And it was the last game of the night, it was in Utah. It was just… I think this is the real Christmas experience, primetime in Madison Square Garden, so I’m looking forward to it.”
To be fair, those Christmas jerseys are one of the most memorable Christmas Day gimmicks the league has ever come up with. Even superstars such as Lilard still remember them well and even wish that the NBA would throw it back. Who knows, maybe that’s on the horizon soon.
Lillard and the Blazers suffered a lopsided loss in 2018 against the Utah Jazz, 117-96. Unfortunately for him, Dame has now gone 0-2 on Christmas Day games after the Bucks failed to take care of business against the Knicks on Monday.
Better luck next year, I guess?
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