The Milwaukee Bucks‘ 2023-24 season did not go nearly as well as fans hoped for before the year started. After former head coach Mike Budenholzer was fired, the team seemed primed for a fresh start under Adrian Griffin. Then, general manager Jon Horst was able to swoop in and trade for perennial All-Star point guard Damian Lillard.
The prospect of pairing Giannis Antetokounmpo and Lillard on the same team made the Bucks instant NBA Finals favorites. Unfortunately, the product that was put on the court fell short of the expectations both players and fans had for the team.
Milwaukee, of course, was eliminated from the NBA Playoffs by the Indiana Pacers in the opening round. It was the second-consecutive year in which the Bucks were sent home in the first round. Leading up to the Game Six loss, there were some rumblings that Lillard would force a trade out of Milwaukee if the Bucks fell short of their ultimate goal. After the game, Dame addressed those rumors.
Damian Lillard Wants to Return to the Milwaukee Bucks Next Season
As many will recall, when Lillard first informed his former team, the Portland Trailblazers, that he wanted to be traded, the only destination that he had in mind was the Miami Heat. However, the Heat refused to meet the Trailblazers’ price. Meanwhile, Lillard’s agent talked to him about potentially joining the Bucks and Giannis, something that he was very much interested in.
Fans around the league know the rest of the story, how Jrue Holiday was sent to Portland, released, and then signed by the Boston Celtics. They also know how Lillard and the Bucks struggled this season. As mentioned, many believed that these struggles, both on and off the court, would lead Lillard to again ask for a trade.
After the Game Six loss, however, Lillard explained why he is looking forward to returning to the Bucks next season:
Dame reflects on the season and shares his excitement for Year 2 in Milwaukee. pic.twitter.com/wxtwOcPYkM
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) May 3, 2024
“I’m extremely excited. I mean, when things don’t go as planned, like I said before, you know, I don’t say a lot, so sometimes when people make a read, ‘Oh look at Dame, he doesn’t look happy,’ I don’t think I’ve ever run around on the court smiling.
“My disposition has always been that way. But I think people are going to look at everything and try to make something of everything. And, it’s been some hard times. I haven’t tried to deny that once this year.
“Basketball and personally, there have been some hard times. But it’s never been an issue with Milwaukee. I get the opportunity to play with Giannis. I’m playing with veteran players. I know the only thing we playing for is the opportunity to win the championship.
“That’s why I made the decision, the decision to come and be a part of something like this. I understand that all of the chatter and the gossip come with the territory. And I understand criticism comes with being on a team with high expectations.”
Later in the interview, Lillard said:
“Having a regular offseason and being able to train and be able to do live stuff. Last year, I couldn’t do certain things because I couldn’t get hurt because I knew I was going to get traded.
“I think going into next season, people will be really surprised that how much of an impact these things really did have when they see me come back.”
Damian Lillard Had a Rough Year in His First Season with the Milwaukee Bucks
In his first season with the Bucks, Lillard averaged 24.3 points and 7.0 assists per game while shooting 42/35/92 from the field. While these numbers may be impressive, they fall short of the 32.2 points and 7.3 assists on 46/37/91 shooting that he had in his final season in Portland.
The expectation for many was that he would at least match his shooting stats in Milwaukee. Teaming up with Giannis meant that his scoring would likely dip, but no one expected it to fall by nearly eight points per game.
Of course, there were a number of factors that affected his season. First, he was not traded until late in the offseason. Most teams’ players will workout and train together in order to build chemistry. Lillard, Giannis, and the rest of the Bucks could not do that due to the lateness of the trade.
Furthermore, Lillard spent the entire season going through a messy divorce that he admitted caused him to lose focus on the court.
Neither of these issues will be factors next season so Lillard and the rest of the team can put their best foot forward towards redemption.
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