We can all only imagine what must have been going through the mind of Milwaukee Bucks star point guard Damian Lillard when he hit that jaw-dropping game-winner against the Sacramento Kings on Sunday night.
Well, thankfully, we won’t need to wonder much longer as Lillard himself has discussed in great detail his exact thought process seconds before the ball left his hand in the final seconds of Sunday’s epic 143-142 overtime victory over Sacramento.
Milwaukee Bucks Star Damian Lillard Explains Buzzer-Beater
Kings star De’Aaron Fox nearly emerged as the game’s big hero. This was after the All-Star point guard forced overtime with a tough lay-up over the outstretched arm of Giannis Antetokounmpo.
DE'AARON FOX CLUTCH.
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) January 15, 2024
It was Lillard, however, who had the final say in the dying seconds of overtime:
DAMIAN MF LILLARD GAME WINNER.
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) January 15, 2024
After the game, Dame talked about the moments leading up to his insane buzzer-beater from 32 feet out:
“I’m just looking for space,” Lillard said, via Eric Nehm of The Athletic. “I think, in my experience, every time I’m in that type of situation, I just try to avoid being in a crowd where it can be deflections or two defenders can put me in a position where I can’t get a shot off at all.
“So once I came up the slot and Brook was kind of right there, I went in front of Brook, but I went that way just to go into space to where even if — I think it was Sabonis — even if he tried to come towards me, I still would have been able to use the rest of that other three quarters of the court.”
This speaks volumes of Lillard’s elite mentality and his ability to stay cool, calm, and collected in the biggest moments. He knew exactly what he wanted to do and he executed it to perfection.
“I looked up at one point and it was four seconds, so I knew I had time to get it over half and make my move to get to that space and get a clean shot up without having to rush it,” Lillard said. “But as soon as I threw it in, I took a peek, I looked at the clock and I knew I had time.”
He also knew that the ball was going in.
For More Wisconsin Sports:
Follow me on Twitter at @PaoloSongcoNBA, and follow us @WiSportsHeroics. Also, check out our Merchandise Here! Get 20% off with the code “WSH.” You can also reach out to Paolo Songco via email at pao.songco@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Wisconsin sports, click here! Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Brewers, Milwaukee Bucks, Wisconsin Badgers.
