Close Menu
WI Sports HeroicsWI Sports Heroics

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest creative news from FooBar about art, design and business.

    What's Hot
    Green Bay Packers Jordan Love

    “That’s Really The Starting Point”: Green Bay Packers Quarterback Coach Sean Mannion Discusses What It Will Take For Jordan Love To Be Successful

    May 16, 2025
    Atlanta Hawks Giannis Antetokounmpo

    “Would Be A Fascinating Development”: Atlanta Hawks Could Shockingly Enter the Giannis Antetokounmpo Sweepstakes This Summer

    May 16, 2025
    Golden State Warriors Brook Lopez

    “One Name To Keep An Eye On”: Golden State Warriors Linked To Signing Brook Lopez In NBA Free Agency This Summer

    May 16, 2025
    Facebook X (Twitter)
    Trending
    • “That’s Really The Starting Point”: Green Bay Packers Quarterback Coach Sean Mannion Discusses What It Will Take For Jordan Love To Be Successful
    • “Would Be A Fascinating Development”: Atlanta Hawks Could Shockingly Enter the Giannis Antetokounmpo Sweepstakes This Summer
    • “One Name To Keep An Eye On”: Golden State Warriors Linked To Signing Brook Lopez In NBA Free Agency This Summer
    • “Miami Is A Glamorous Destination”: Miami Heat Could Make Shocking Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade (Report)
    • “There Are No Early Indications”: Golden State Warriors Could Be Pulling Out of Giannis Antetokounmpo Sweepstakes (Report)
    • “Excellent Defensive Skills”: Milwaukee Brewers Linked To North Carolina Tar Heels Catcher Luke Stevenson In 2025 MLB Draft
    • “A 103.0 MPH Heater”: Milwaukee Brewers Prospect Jacob Misiorowski Throwing Gas During Minor League Outings
    • Wisconsin Badgers: 2 Top Colts Officials Preview Big Changes in Linebacker Hunter Wohler’s Role to Help Them Adjust in ‘Match Up’ League
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Our Writers
    Facebook X (Twitter) RSS
    WI Sports HeroicsWI Sports Heroics
    SUBSCRIBE FOR UPDATES
    • Packers
      • Aaron Rodgers News
      • Jordan Love News
      • Matt LaFleur News
      • Packers News
      • Packers Rumors
      • Packers History
    • Bucks
      • Giannis Antetokounmpo News
      • Bucks News
      • Bucks Rumors
    • Brewers
      • Brewers News
      • Brewers Rumors
    • Badgers
      • Wisconsin Badgers Football
      • Wisconsin Badgers Basketball
      • Wisconsin Badgers Women’s Basketball
      • Wisconsin Badgers Volleyball
      • Wisconsin Badgers Hockey
      • Wisconsin Badgers Wrestling
    • Marquette
      • Marquette Basketball
    • Draft
      • 2023 NFL Draft Big Board & Scouting Reports
      • 2023 NFL Mock Drafts
    • Milkmen
      • Milwaukee Milkmen News
      • Milwaukee Milkmen Rumors
    • Podcasts
      • CheeseDads Sports
      • Packers Podcast
      • Wickett On Wisconsin
    • Fantasy
    • NFL
    WI Sports HeroicsWI Sports Heroics
    You are here Home » Damian Lillard on Why He Started ‘Panicking’ After Learning About Milwaukee Bucks Trade
    Bucks

    Damian Lillard on Why He Started ‘Panicking’ After Learning About Milwaukee Bucks Trade

    Paolo SongcoBy Paolo SongcoNovember 20, 2023No Comments4 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Mar 14, 2023; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) reacts to a foul call during the second half against the New York Knicks at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
    Mar 14, 2023; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) reacts to a foul call during the second half against the New York Knicks at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    According to reports, Damian Lillard found out about his trade to the Milwaukee Bucks just 16 minutes before the news went public. It’s not as if the seven-time All-Star was totally kept in the dark throughout the negotiation period, but it still came as quite a shock for him considering how it was the Miami Heat that was his preferred trade destination.

    The Moment Damian Lillard Found Out About Milwaukee Bucks Trade

    Mar 27, 2023; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard (0) watches players warm up prior to the game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
    Mar 27, 2023; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard (0) watches players warm up prior to the game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

    In a recent interview, Lillard relived the exact moment he found out about the blockbuster trade. This was reportedly around 1 p.m. CT on September 27. The news of the blockbuster trade broke at around 1:16 p.m.

    “I was just kind of sitting there in my man cave,” he said, via Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “I didn’t know what was really going to happen. I started to think like, man, it might get to training camp and I might just be sitting and waiting. And then I got that call from my agent and it was like, man, you’re getting traded to Milwaukee. And I had heard so many different things and it’s like, am I really getting traded? He’s like yeah, they traded you. And I could tell in the seriousness of his voice that it was real. He was like, I’ll let you sit with for a while. I’ll call you back, I’m going to settle some things and we’ll talk about it.”

    As Lillard said, he was already thinking about what training camp would be like with the Portland Trail Blazers following a drama-filled summer. Thankfully for him, he did not have to go through that awkward stage.

    Panic Started to Set In

    Oct 26, 2023; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) reacts after being called for a foul during the third quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
    Oct 26, 2023; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) reacts after being called for a foul during the third quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

    While it was his desire to leave Portland, it still felt like he got hit by a freight train the moment he knew it was official. Lillard had spent 11 years in the city and with the organization, and it was never going to be easy to leave.

    “After we got off the phone, I sat there and I was like, I’m really moving on,” Dame said. “It became reality for me. I kind of just started to think, my entire family is here. How am I going to pack everything up? I started to panic a little bit. It’s the first time. Then I wanted to let my family know, so I started walking around the house and nobody was there. Everybody was out doing something. I’m calling people and nobody’s picking up the phone. I was like, man, any other time I’d be able to reach whoever I need to. So, I had to sit with it by myself for a while. So when that happened, I just went back to the man cave and I sat there, and that’s when the calls started coming in. My friends, family members, like is it real? Is it true?

    “Then, I started to think about the team. It was like, who did I get traded for? Who’s going to be there?”

    Milwaukee Bucks Damian Lillard
    Oct 2, 2023; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0). Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

    As Dame recalled, a bit of panic set in the moment he realized that it was actually time to go. He also couldn’t reach anyone to talk about it, which left him all alone as the gravity of the situation sunk in.

    At the end of the day, this was exactly what he wanted, and he got to savor the moment all by his lonesome.

    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.

    Get the latest Wisconsin sports news, analysis, and breaking stories on the Packers, Bucks, Brewers, Badgers and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News, so you never miss a story on your favorite Wisconsin teams.

    Damian Lillard Milwaukee Bucks Portland Trail Blazers
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Paolo Songco
    • X (Twitter)

    Paolo has been covering the NBA for the past seven years. He is from the Philippines and holds a bachelor's degree in Management Information Systems from the Ateneo de Manila University (2009). Paolo cut his teeth with ClutchPoints, where he established himself as one of the top and most tenured associate editors on the website. Now with Wisconsin Sports Heroics, he is looking to bring his passion and excellent journalism skills to the table.

    Related Posts

    Atlanta Hawks Giannis Antetokounmpo

    “Would Be A Fascinating Development”: Atlanta Hawks Could Shockingly Enter the Giannis Antetokounmpo Sweepstakes This Summer

    May 16, 2025
    Golden State Warriors Brook Lopez

    “One Name To Keep An Eye On”: Golden State Warriors Linked To Signing Brook Lopez In NBA Free Agency This Summer

    May 16, 2025
    Miami Heat Giannis Antetokounmpo

    “Miami Is A Glamorous Destination”: Miami Heat Could Make Shocking Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade (Report)

    May 16, 2025
    Golden State Warriors Giannis Antetokounmpo

    “There Are No Early Indications”: Golden State Warriors Could Be Pulling Out of Giannis Antetokounmpo Sweepstakes (Report)

    May 16, 2025
    Add A Comment
    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    WI Sports Heroics
    Facebook X (Twitter) RSS
    • Contact Us
    • Advertisement
    • Privacy Policy
    • Corporate
    © 2025 WISportsHeroics All Rights Reserved.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    x