New Milwaukee Bucks superstar Damian Lillard has been with the Portland Trail Blazers throughout his entire 11-year NBA career. This also means that he’s been playing in the Western Conference for more than a decade now. As such, even the seven-time All-NBA point guard admits that he expects some major adjustments ahead.
Milwaukee Bucks Star Damian Lillard on Major Difference Between East and West
Despite his previous loyalty to the West, Lillard is very much aware of what the East brings to the table. Speaking to Marc J. Spears of Andscape during a recent interview, Dame shared his thoughts on this burning narrative:
“The Eastern Conference just has a more gritty reputation than the West,” he said. “In the West, we are getting up and down we are scoring points. It’s probably considered more entertaining in the Western Conference, but being in the East, just knowing it’s going to be more gritty. It is not the same type of basketball.”
I see no lies here. The West does have more of a reputation for having a run-and-gun type of play, which caters to the appetite of more than a few NBA fans out there. This does not mean, however, that the East is an inferior conference. You can be sure that Lillard and the Bucks will want to have a say about this notion this coming season.
Damian Lillard’s Biggest ‘Adjustment’
By his own admission, though, the style of play is not the biggest adjustment Lillard expects to face. In his mind, the seven-time All-Star is already anticipating the major change in his living conditions:
“But the biggest adjustment for me is the weather,” he said. “I’m a West Coast dude. I’ve been playing on the West coast the whole time. So, just the weather. All these cold cities. Only playing those Western Conference teams twice now instead of four times. I’m going to be seeing other guys more than I’m used to. But that’s it.”
As far as cold weather goes, Milwaukee does have a reputation for having one of the most brutal climates among NBA cities. Lillard has been in town on more than a few occasions in the past but will be going through a major adjustment now that he will be spending most of his days in Milwaukee.
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