Damian Lillard recently spoke with the Journal Sentinel about his two-year tenure with the Milwaukee Bucks, emphasizing that injuries prevented the team from reaching its championship potential. Lillard, who was waived-and-stretched by Milwaukee on July 6 and re-signed with the Portland Trail Blazers, averaged 25 points and seven assists during his time with the Bucks.
Lillard addressed criticism about his performance in Milwaukee, noting the team's injury struggles throughout both seasons. The Bucks were the second seed for most of the 2023-24 season before finishing third, then faced significant health issues in the playoffs.
"I think you gotta be a little bit lucky to win big. You gotta be healthy and you gotta be playing your best at the right time and I think we just had bad luck," Lillard said.
The point guard detailed how injuries affected both playoff runs. In 2024, Giannis Antetokounmpo missed the entire first round while Lillard injured his Achilles in Game 3 and missed two games. This year, Lillard ruptured his Achilles at the start of Game 4 in their playoff series.
"The healthy part we just didn't have," Lillard explained. "I think that's the biggest hurdle. That was our biggest hurdle and each year that was the case."
Despite the injury setbacks, Lillard and Antetokounmpo formed the league's highest-scoring duo during their time together. The pair also captured the NBA Cup championship, which Lillard viewed as validation of their potential when healthy.
Lillard defended his individual performance against critics who compared his Milwaukee production unfavorably to his Portland years. He emphasized the challenge of maintaining elite numbers while sharing the court with another ball-dominant superstar.
"But I think Giannis and I, we was the highest-scoring duo during that time. We won a Cup. I think a lot of people for me personally was like, we want to see Dame do this and Dame do that, but I'm playing with a 30-plus point per game scorer, a guy who plays with the ball in his hands the same way I've done my whole career. He's aggressive and attacking and I still managed to score 25 points per game and seven assists over my two years pretty much," Lillard said.
"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. I had the ball all the time, so it just looked different. But I think for how productive I actually was I think it's been viewed unfairly. Because how many other people have averaged 25 a game with seven assists as the No. 1 option, let alone playing with somebody like Giannis? But I wouldn't say it was incomplete. I thought we just couldn't stay healthy. I think that's the biggest hurdle. That was our biggest hurdle and each year that was the case."
Lillard praised his partnership with the two-time MVP, calling it a "luxury" to play alongside such a dominant player. He appreciated Antetokounmpo's dedication and competitive spirit, noting their shared commitment to team success.
"As a tandem with him, I felt like we can go and win it all with the two of us," Lillard said. "I'm not sure I'll ever have that experience again."
