As trade rumors heated up daily during the offseason, Damian Lillard’s name was constantly mentioned on social media. With every X notification people got on their phones, their hopes soared that Lillard was finally going to be traded to the Miami Heat, the franchise he and everyone else wanted. But in a surprising move, the Portland Trail Blazers ended up trading Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks, not Miami.
Lillard also sparked controversy when news of his divorce broke just weeks after being traded to the Bucks, with many claiming that “he ran from the grind.” And with his name still in the rumor mill, fans eagerly awaited his debut with the Milwaukee Bucks against the Los Angeles Lakers.
On Sunday, the 38-year-old Lillard sported his new Buck threads on the court. He took on the game with his two-time NBA MVP teammate, Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Lillard Bucks Debut stats
Lillard posted a 14-point, 3-assist, 3-steal and 2-rebounding performance in the 108-97 victory against the Lakers, shooting a 3-of-10 overall and 2-of-5 from 3-point range.
Lillard played 22 minutes and came off the court with the Bucks trailing 74-66 late in the 3rd quarter, as per Blazersedge.
A look at Damian Lillard's first #NBAPreseason game with the Milwaukee Bucks 🦌
14 PTS
2 3PM
3 AST
3 STL
22 MIN pic.twitter.com/tLhkcNLayL— NBA (@NBA) October 16, 2023
Lillard’s take on his debut
After the game, Lillard expressed his satisfaction with the experience, noting that the initial stages of the game were “rusty” and “simple”.
“I felt great. It’s always a little bit of rust in the beginning but the game was very simple,” Lillard said on NBA TV.
“It was a matter of getting my wind up, just getting into the rhythm. They came out blitzing me in the beginning so it woke me up. It was just good to be back out on the floor.”
Lillard was also asked about his relationship with Milwaukee Bucks superstar Antetokounmpo, ESPN’s No. 1 player.
“It has been very solid,” Lillard stated. “It has been simple. I don’t think I have, and I don’t think he has either, gone into it overly trying to piece everything together.
“I think our personalities mesh well. Our styles of play mesh well. Everything else has just happened organically in time, and we’ve got to allow that space to happen,” Lillard added, as per basketballforever.
After Lillard’s Bucks debut, he was seen with his three kids after the game.
Damian Lillard with his kids after his Bucks debut in Los Angeles 🫶
(via @Dame_Lillard / IG) pic.twitter.com/7Tq6ccEQNN
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) October 16, 2023
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