Damian Lillard has opened up about his time with the Milwaukee Bucks following his release earlier this month and subsequent return to the Portland Trail Blazers.
In an interview with Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel’s Jim Owczarski, Lillard described his 22-month run in Milwaukee as both memorable and misunderstood.
“Playing with Giannis was truly a pleasure and a luxury,” Lillard said. “I’m not sure I’ll ever have that experience again.”
The Bucks acquired Lillard in a blockbuster trade on September 27, 2023, aiming to form a championship-caliber tandem with Giannis Antetokounmpo. Lillard made an immediate impact, scoring 39 points in his debut and setting a franchise record for points in a debut game.
Over two seasons, the nine-time All-Star averaged 24.6 points and 7.0 assists per game. He became the fifth player in league history to reach 2,500 career three-pointers and won the 2024 All-Star Game MVP, also claiming back-to-back Three-Point Contest titles.
But the Bucks never fully capitalized on Lillard’s production, largely due to injuries. The team was eliminated in the First Round in back-to-back years, with Lillard missing critical games in each series. In April of this year, he suffered a torn Achilles tendon in Game 4 against Indiana, ending his season.
“I showed up. I never shied away from anything,” Lillard said. “The production was there. We just couldn’t stay healthy.”
Lillard addressed criticism over his numbers declining in Milwaukee compared to his Portland years. He noted that playing alongside Antetokounmpo naturally shifted his role and usage.
“So I think it’s kind of unfair how people was like Dame (isn’t the same) because of the way I played in Portland,” he said. “But for how productive I actually was, I think it’s been viewed unfairly.”
In 2023–24, he averaged 24.3 points and 7.0 assists while shooting 35.4% from deep. The following year, he slightly improved his efficiency, putting up 24.9 points and 7.1 assists on 37.6% from beyond the arc before his injury.
On July 6, Milwaukee waived the 34-year-old, stretching the $103 million remaining on his contract. He returned to Portland on July 19, signing a three-year, $42 million deal.
Despite the early exit and injury setbacks, Lillard maintains pride in his contributions to the Bucks.
“I think when people actually look back at it… they’ll have to say, well, if that’s a down level of performance, then what are we really saying about this dude?”
