Milwaukee Bucks superstar Damian Lillard has been vocal about previously not being able to play with a superstar of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s caliber throughout his decorated 11-year NBA career. The biggest star Dame has had to play alongside is former Portland Trail Blazers LaMarcus Aldridge — a player whom Lillard himself likened to Antetokounmpo. To a certain extent, of course.
LaMarcus Aldridge on Milwaukee Bucks’ Superstar Tandem
Aldridge and Lillard spent three years together in Portland. This was when Dame first entered the NBA and before Aldridge decided to sign with the San Antonio Spurs as a free agent in 2015.
Despite their brief time together, Aldridge got to know Lillard well — both the player and the man. According to the former seven-time All-Star big man, Dame’s partnership with Giannis is an excellent match.
“They still need him to be him,” Aldridge said of Lillard, via the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Jim Owczarski. “They need somebody that’s going to make clutch shots at the end of the game, they need somebody that’s going to have ice in their veins. That’s him. He’s great at pick-and-roll, and that’s what we got great at. I think he’s great at playing off the post. Giannis posts up a lot, that’s what I did a lot, (and) he’s great at reading off the post, getting his shot. He can play so many different roles – catch-and-shoot, off the dribble, pick-and-roll. I think he’s so versatile that it’s going to work out.”
Aldridge and Lillard never really had the chance to play together during their peak. It’s a different story for Dame and Giannis, though, as these two superstars get to terrorize the league while both are in their prime.
As Aldridge said, his game has some similarities to that of Giannis. This only means that it’s very much possible that Dame and Antetokounmpo will be able to reach certain heights that Lillard and Aldridge never attained in Portland.
You can be sure that Bucks fans are hoping that this will be the case.
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