In a bold move this offseason, the Milwaukee Bucks orchestrated a trade, bringing Damian Lillard into the fold from the Portland Trail Blazers and pairing him with another superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Vin Baker, Bucks assistant coach and four-time NBA All-Star, shared his thoughts in an interview with Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson during the launch of his Bouncing Back Foundation, proclaiming that Lillard and Antetokounmpo represent the contemporary equivalent of Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal.
Baker expressed his excitement, stating, “So I see a Shaq and Kobe dynamic, from a talent standpoint. We have TWO NBA Top 75 players on our roster and we also have Khris Middleton, Bobby Portis, Brook Lopez, Pat Connaughton… we also have a bunch of great players but with Dame and Giannis; and not even with their greatness as players, the thing that I’m most fascinated by daily is being around them is their humility.”
He emphasized the unique combination of extreme talent and humility possessed by Lillard and Antetokounmpo, highlighting their shared goal of winning a championship. Baker considers them not just outstanding players but perfect individuals for a dynamic partnership.
“You couldn’t have picked two more perfect people to go together — not players, but perfect people,” he said. “They’re both humble, they both want to win a championship and they both have extreme talent.
“So, we’re blessed and fortunate to have them in Milwaukee. Dame as you heard all the rumors in the summertime Miami and all the other places that he could’ve gone and he could’ve gone anywhere, but we’re fortunate to have considered one of the greatest point guards to ever play the game.”
