Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard recently spoke about landing with Milwaukee this offseason instead of the Miami Heat.
Lillard, who requested a trade from the Portland Trail Blazers, reportedly wanted to play for Miami, but the Bucks ended up entering the picture in time to acquire the veteran
Andscape’s Marc J. Spears spoke to Lillard about how everything unfolded.
“A couple weeks ago, probably about two weeks ago,” Lillard said after being asked when Milwaukee entered the picture for him. “Obviously, I didn’t know what was going to happen. Things were up in the air. I mentioned I wanted to go to Miami. I felt like it was a great situation for me and my agent [Aaron Goodwin] was just like, ‘Man, Milwaukee is probably the best basketball situation for you. What you think about Milwaukee?’ And I told him, ‘I love Giannis [Antetokounmpo]. I think it’s a great opportunity for me, but let’s see.’ And I left it to him.
“So, I knew weeks ago that there was a possibility that it could happen. I just didn’t know how [it happens]. So, when it happened, I was like, ‘Man, it actually came back.’”
The Bucks gave up a lot to get Lillard, including All-Star guard Jrue Holiday, in a three-team deal with the Trail Blazers and Phoenix Suns. The Blazers already flipped Holiday to the Boston Celtics in exchange for Malcolm Brogdon, Robert Williams III and draft pick
Andscape’s Marc J. Spears spoke to Lillard about how everything unfolded.
“A couple weeks ago, probably about two weeks ago,” Lillard said after being asked when Milwaukee entered the picture for him. “Obviously, I didn’t know what was going to happen. Things were up in the air. I mentioned I wanted to go to Miami. I felt like it was a great situation for me and my agent [Aaron Goodwin] was just like, ‘Man, Milwaukee is probably the best basketball situation for you. What you think about Milwaukee?’ And I told him, ‘I love Giannis [Antetokounmpo]. I think it’s a great opportunity for me, but let’s see.’ And I left it to him.
“So, I knew weeks ago that there was a possibility that it could happen. I just didn’t know how [it happens]. So, when it happened, I was like, ‘Man, it actually came back.’”
The Bucks gave up a lot to get Lillard, including All-Star guard Jrue Holiday, in a three-team deal with the Trail Blazers and Phoenix Suns. The Blazers already flipped Holiday to the Boston Celtics in exchange for Malcolm Brogdon, Robert Williams III and draft picks.
Now, Lillard gets to team up with Antetokounmpo, who is undoubtedly one of the best players in the NBA. A two-time MVP, Antetokounmpo has won a title with the Bucks, and it’s possible he and Lillard will now win one together.
A seven-time All-NBA selection, Lillard is still one of the best guards in the NBA. He averaged 32.2 points and 7.3 assists per game while shooting 46.3 percent from the field and 37.1 percent from beyond the arc last season.
