These days, college athletes have a chance to start early with their respective careers and make money at the same time using their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) before going pro. Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard aims to help these young people with the launch of a new management venture to help them out.
Selected as the sixth overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft by the Portland Trail Blazers, Damian Lillard spent 11 seasons with the team. During his tenure, he showcased his prowess by averaging 25.2 points, shooting 37 percent from beyond the arc, along with 4.2 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game. In his debut season, Lillard earned the prestigious Rookie of the Year award.
On September 27, 2023, a significant three-team trade took place, resulting in Lillard being traded to the Bucks. In exchange, the Portland Trail Blazers received Jrue Holiday, Deandre Ayton, Toumani Camara, and a 2029 first-round draft pick, while the Phoenix Suns acquired Grayson Allen, Jusuf Nurkić, Nassir Little, and Keon Johnson. Additionally, the Blazers gained the rights to swap first-round draft picks with the Bucks in 2028 and 2030.
Despite experiencing success at the All-Star Weekend, Lillard’s initial playoff run with the Bucks did not yield desirable results. Unfortunately, an injury forced him to miss crucial games during the first round against the Indiana Pacers, ultimately leading to an early exit from the playoffs for the Bucks.
Milwaukee Bucks Star Damian Lillard Launch New Venture To Help College Athletes
Apart from preparing for the upcoming season, the Bucks starting guard has also announced the launch of Lillard MGMT. In a post shared by the Milwaukee star on Instagram:
View this post on Instagram
Lillard’s new venture is aimed to help college stars make the most out of the NIL early in their careers. It remains to be seen which athletes the company will go for and the sports they’ll be coming from.
With Lillard’s venture out in the open, college athletes will have more reasons to be protected as they start their journeys to becoming pros. Expect the company to come out soon with their first batch of young stars down the line.
For More Wisconsin Sports:
Follow us on Twitter at @WiSportsHeroics. Also, check out our Merchandise Here! Get 20% off with the code “WSH.” 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.