The Milwaukee Bucks did not come anywhere close to achieving the goals and expectations that they and everyone else had for them going into the 2023-24 NBA season. Firing head coach Mike Budenholzer in favor of Adrian Griffin was supposed to solve rotation questions and set a high standard for coaches in Milwaukee. The standard may have been too high or Griffin, who was fired midway through the season despite being 30-13 at the time.
Milwaukee also pulled off a massive trade for now eight-time All-Star Damian Lillard. In order to get him, the Bucks had to send Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trailblazers (who then sent him to the Boston Celtics) and Grayson Allen to the Phoenix Suns.
As many fans may remember, trade rumors surrounding Lillard had been going on for months. Before being traded to the Bucks, the only team that had reportedly been in on any trade discussions was the Miami Heat, whom the NBA 75th Anniversary team member had identified as his destination of choice. The Heat, though, were not willing to meet Portland’s asking price and Bucks general manager Jon Horst was able to swoop in secretly and get a deal done.
Damian Lillard and the Milwaukee Bucks Did Not Meet Expectations in 2023-24
In his last season with the Trailblazers, Lillard averaged 32.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game while shooting 46/37/91 from the floor. Adding him to a roster that boasts Giannis Antetokounmpo as its best player was an exciting proposition, and it was too good of a move for Milwaukee not to make.
Unfortunately, due to a variety of reasons, Lillard and the Bucks just did not click completely last season. During the year, Lillard admitted that his ongoing divorce was affecting his focus on the court. Add in the injuries that both he and Giannis suffered, and it made for a challenging season and postseason.
In his first season with the Bucks, Lillard averaged 24.3 point, 4.4 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game while shooting 42/35/92 from the field. Obviously, this was quite the drop in production, and a recent bombshell from head coach Doc Rivers may explain why it happened.
Damian Lillard Did Not Work Out at All Before Trade to the Milwaukee Bucks
Bucks head coach Doc Rivers was recently a guest on the Bill Simmons Podcast, and during his interview he revealed a shocking confession that Lillard had made to him soon after he arrived in Milwaukee:
“I didn’t even realize Dame was traded two or three days before training camp. We were at dinner, and he said, ‘Coach, I didn’t work out all summer. It’s the first time in my life that I’ve not worked out. I was so scared of getting injured working out.’
“He knew he was gonna get traded. So, he said, ‘You know, I did some light running. I did some shooting with no one in the gym. But I didn’t go hard at all.’ He was honest about it, and that’s one of the reasons you love him. He said, ‘This is the worst shape I’ve ever been in.'”
From a business and financial standpoint, one can understand why Lillard was nervous about getting hurt while working out. Just look at the backlash Giannis is getting for wanting to participate in the Olympics with the Greek National Team. While he is coming off of an injury, so was Lillard before he got traded to Milwaukee.
At the same time, though, it is frustrating that the Bucks did not get the best version of Lillard last season. On the bright side, if the “bad” version of the eight-time All-Star is one that averages 24 points and seven assists per game, one can only imagine what Milwaukee will have next year with a point guard who is in shape and has worked with his teammates all offseason.
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