Over a year ago, the entire NBA was shaken to its core when the Portland Trail Blazers traded Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks. Now, the All-Star point guard has opened up about how difficult the transition was during that period.
As the Bucks prepare for the 2024-25 NBA season, Lillard is dismissed concerns about his ability to contribute at a high level. Acquired by the Milwaukee in a blockbuster trade last September, His debut season in Milwaukee was hampered by injuries and a lack of chemistry with superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Despite a down year by his standards, Lillard remains adamant that he is not a player who breakings down. The 34-year-old insists he maintains a healthy lifestyle and can still perform at the same level he did two or three years ago. This confidence is understandable given the point guard’s track record of excellence, as he was named an All-Star last season while averaging 24.3 points and 7.0 assists per game.
The upcoming season will be crucial for the Bucks, who parted with a significant haul to acquire the former Trail Blazers star. With limited flexibility to upgrade the roster, the team’s championship aspirations hinge on the backcourt duo of Lillard and Antetokounmpo finding their rhythm.
Milwaukee Bucks Star Damian Lillard Opens Up On Difficult Milwaukee Bucks Transition
Just recently, Lillard opened up about his transition from being the number one guy in Portland to part of a duo in Milwaukee. In an an article written by Cody Smith for Sports Illustrated, the All-Star guard shared more of his experience during that period.
“It was a harder transition than I thought for real like just like I said because of my life (divorce) but then also like adjusting to playing with another great player (Giannis) and then also playing with Khris (Middleton),” Damian Lillard said on the Club 520 Podcast. “Khris is a great player too but he plays a certain way too, so I’m having to get used to playing with two players and I don’t want to stop them from doing what they do, but I got to find how to be the best version of me within this too, so it was just a lot it, was a lot of moving parts, it was more difficult than I thought it would would be.”
Injuries have been a concern for Dame in recent seasons, and the Bucks will need him to stay healthy and recapture his elite form to compete with the likes of the reigning champion Boston Celtics, the rising New York Knicks, and the loaded Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference.
It remains to be seen what kind of Damian Lillard fans will get when the new season starts. If it’s anywhere near his peak form in Portland, Milwaukee will surely have more chances to compete for a ring in the playoffs.
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