Despite a disappointingly brief playoff run, Milwaukee Bucks star guard Damian Lillard is “extremely excited” to return for another season (h/t The Athletic’s Eric Nehm).
These comments may come as a shock to many. Over the past few months, Lillard’s happiness playing in Milwaukee or for the Bucks has come into question. To be fair, Lillard incited that debate himself when he revealed that he hasn’t been having much fun this season in an exclusive interview with SI’s Chris Mannix.
In April, he claimed his only intention was to shed light on how being away from his family impacts his emotional wellbeing. However, in the interview with Mannix, he made it clear that he was strained on the court as well.
Damian Lillard Reveals Thoughts on Returning to Bucks Next Season
After the Bucks were eliminated by the upstart Indiana Pacers in the First Round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs, Lillard went back to his original message. The one that he put out in his interview with Mannix. The very comments he characterized as untrue.
“It’s been some hard times,” Lillard says. “I haven’t denied that one time this year. Basketball and personally, it’s been some hard times, but it’s never been an issue with Milwaukee.”
The disconnect between Lillard and those interpreting his comments is that he believes his on-court frustrations have nothing to do with Milwaukee. Yet, Lillard was stressed by basketball and he plays basketball in Milwaukee. It only follows that people would perceive his comments to be related to the Bucks.
Furthermore, for Lillard to have no off-court activities in Milwaukee despite multiple teammates that have been there for years suggests that he wasn’t thrilled about the city. As previously mentioned, it’s hard to imagine Lillard going straight from the arena to home and back every day if his wish to be traded to the Miami Heat was granted.
However, there’s no doubt that he enjoys playing for a championship contender.
“I get the opportunity to play with Giannis (Antetokounmpo),” Lillard says. “I’m playing with veteran players,” he continues, alluding to the Portland Trail Blazers’ decision to rebuild.
“I know that the only thing we playing for is an opportunity to win the championship. And that’s why I made the decision to be a part of something like this.”
Prior to this year, Lillard’s last playoff experience was in 2021. He’s only made it past the First Round in three of his nine playoff appearances.
Putting It All Into Perspective
“…Now that the season has come to an end, I’m looking at it and I’m excited…,” Lillard reiterates.
“I was almost 25 points a game, seven assists, we almost won 50 games given everything else and people just, you know, had a whole lot to say.
And when I look at my performance, I know that I could have done a lot of things better. And I know that I’m going to have a full season of knowing the coach I’m going to be playing for, having a better idea of the guys that I’m going to be playing with. Being in Milwaukee, I’ve kind of settled into things here.”
Despite Lillard producing at a high level, he was inefficient for the bulk of the season. Even by midseason, when his conditioning should have improved to the point where he wasn’t even thinking about his reluctance to train in the offseason, he was still having trouble keeping shots in the rim.
Consider that there were three months that Lillard shot under 40 percent from the field: October, January, and April.
There were three months in which Lillard shot under 34 percent from 3: November, January, and April.
There was only one month that Lillard shot at least 44 percent from the field: December.
Because Doc Rivers was hired as head coach on Jan. 26, it’s obvious that him replacing Adrian Griffin lent itself to Lillard performing better. Indeed, over the next 15 games, Lillard averaged 23.9 points per game while shooting 41.2 percent from 3. In the previous 15 games, he averaged 23.5 points per game but on 31.7 percent shooting from 3.
A veteran head coach who came into the job knowing his point guard would be Lillard and not Jrue Holiday, Rivers was better prepared to maximize the eight-time All-Star’s scoring ability. To that end, he endeavored to place Lillard in actions he thrived in with the Blazers. Now with a full offseason ahead to grow together, both should be even more comfortable in their roles.
