The NBA’s top scorers, Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo, have teamed together to form a potent combination that makes the Milwaukee Bucks a serious contender for the 2024 NBA championship. Last month, the Bucks acquired seven-time All-Star center Antetokounmpo and seven-time All-Star guard Lillard from the Portland Trail Blazers, forming a potent inside-outside duo akin to that of Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant.
“It’s amazing to have someone like Dame on the team,” Antetokounmpo remarked. “Has a high skill level, is made of the same material, and is competitive. He is ravenously hungry.”
Lillard observes his new teammates to have the same hunger. “I’m eager to see what lies ahead,” Lillard remarked. “They share my desire to win with equal fervor. I’m ecstatic beyond measure. I am incredibly grateful for this chance to play with the best player in the league. It will be enjoyable.
After 11 seasons at Portland, the 33-year-old Lillard never made it to the NBA Finals and wants out in order to make that breakthrough. “We must concentrate on our objective of winning the championship,” stated Antetokounmpo. Dame desires this. He’s going to push us because he’s hungry to win. Having him on our team makes me very delighted.”
Antetokounmpo, the two-time NBA Most Valuable Player, guided the Milwaukee Bucks to their first NBA championship in fifty years in 2021. However, Milwaukee lost to Miami in the opening round of the 2022 playoffs after losing to Boston in the second round of the previous season, despite winning 58 games to secure the top seed in the Eastern Conference. This led to a change in leadership, which included Adrian Griffin, a Toronto assistant, taking over as coach in place of Mike Budenholzer.
The Bucks sent Antetokounmpo a message that they were serious about continuing to be a title contender when they re-signed center Brook Lopez and forward Khris Middleton. On September 27, Milwaukee put an end to any uncertainty when they acquired Lillard in a three-team trade that sent Jrue Holiday, a 14-year NBA player, to Portland. Portland then traded Holiday to Boston, which is perhaps the Bucks’ biggest East opponent.
Last season, Lillard averaged 32.2 points per game for Portland, which finished third in the NBA. Antetokounmpo, on the other hand, finished fifth with 31.1 points per game and 11.8 rebounds per game. If opponents clamp up on Lillard defensively, the 28-year-old Greek big man should see inside opportunities and outside shooting possibilities as part of the pick-and-roll partnership.
Lillard described his relationship with the big man for the Bucks as “very solid.” It’s been easygoing. I don’t think we’ve unnecessarily tried to put things together—neither he nor I, I believe.
“Our personalities seem to work nicely together. Our playing styles are a good fit. Everything else has simply developed naturally over time, and we must give it room to do so.”
That leaves just four weeks to pass between the deal and Thursday’s Milwaukee opening game against visiting Philadelphia.”I know we’re both willing to be ourselves and let the other guy be himself because I need Dame to be Dame, and I think he needs me to be me,” Antetokounmpo stated.
“It has gone perfectly.”
Lillard has mixed in more than just Antetokounmpo in the last month. Regarding his new teammates, Lillard remarked, “I feel comfortable because I’ve been on the floor with them a decent amount.”
“I think my style actually works well with the guys, so it’s been easy. It’s not at all difficult. It’s simply a question of time until we can play against other teams, get to know one another, and figure out how to play together.”Lillard described his new team as “a boost of excitement, focus, and energy.” “You make your way around, and you start to see the level of the organization,” he stated. “Since they emerged victorious, this is the norm. That is what I’ve been aiming for.”