According to Damian Lillard himself, he’s caught himself on more than one occasion having a “wow” moment with new Milwaukee Bucks teammate Giannis Antetokounmpo. This isn’t surprising at all considering how the two-time league MVP is one of the most astonishing players to ever pick up a basketball.
Be that as it may, there is one other aspect about his new team that has made a significant impression on Lilalrd early on.
Damian Lillard on Milwaukee Bucks’ ‘Consistency’
It’s just been a few weeks since Lillard officially made his move to the Bucks. During this time, he’s had several chances to witness how the squad operates. Now that the hype surrounding his blockbuster move is beginning to die down, Dame is able to see his new team’s true colors — and he likes it:
“It’s early, but I would say it’s the consistency that I see,” Lillard said, via Eric Nehm of The Athltic. “Typically, everybody’s excited in the beginning, but then you have a couple tough days, you get a little tired and then the mentality changes, like being in the weight room and getting your shots up. Here, I’m impressed about how it’s every day and it’s not loud, it’s not extra; it’s just everybody show up and do it. You always see somebody in the weight room, you see somebody on the table, you see somebody getting their shots up, we practice hard, they’re getting in the cold tub.
This no-nonsense workhorse mentality is something that the Bucks have imbibed through the years. You have to say that a lot of this comes from their talisman. Giannis is not only one of the most talented individuals in the world of basketball, but he also happens to be one of the hardest workers you’ll ever come across. This mindset tends to rub off on everybody else.
Putting the Work In
Lillard, of all people, knows how important it is to put the work in behind the scenes. What the fans see on the basketball court during games is merely a product of the hard work and sacrifice the players go through every single day.
At this point, Dame has been left impressed by what he’s seen from his new teammates:
“The discipline that I’ve seen, it’s not just this guy or that guy; it’s like everybody is on top of their stuff,” he continued. “And I think collectively that just equals success. I don’t see how it doesn’t. Nobody is like, ‘Look at me.’ Or, ‘Oh, I gotta do this.’ Or, ‘I gotta do that.’ It’s just like everybody is on point with what they have to be doing and it’s like adults, professionalism and people that care about it and take it serious.”
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