Damian Lillard on life in Milwaukee: It's lonely here because all my family is in Portland
SI: I don’t want to overstate it—but it sounds kind of lonely. Dame Lillard: It’s definitely lonely because I’m such a family guy. My life is my family. After games, I would come out and my whole family would be back there. My kids coming out of the playroom. My mom, my brother, my cousins lived there, you know what I mean? My best friends live in Portland. So I would come out, we would go to dinner. They might come to my house. After practice, I might go to my mom’s house and just chill. That’s how my life was. So, I mean, I’m fine because I’m grown. But it’s definitely lonely. I’m filled up by those people.
Source: Sports Illustrated
Source: Sports Illustrated
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
Ball Don’t Lie @Balldontlie
Dame put the defender on SKATES 😱
(via @NBA)
pic.twitter.com/GCFykdXrjf – 8:26 PM
Dame put the defender on SKATES 😱
(via @NBA)
pic.twitter.com/GCFykdXrjf – 8:26 PM
Anthony Chiang @Anthony_Chiang
Damian Lillard named Bam Adebayo to his dream NBA starting five earlier this month. Adebayo: “I feel like it’s respect for what I do” miamiherald.com/sports/nba/mia… Also, Delon Wright’s first Heat moment – 8:16 PM
Damian Lillard named Bam Adebayo to his dream NBA starting five earlier this month. Adebayo: “I feel like it’s respect for what I do” miamiherald.com/sports/nba/mia… Also, Delon Wright’s first Heat moment – 8:16 PM
Chris Mannix @SIChrisMannix
Sat down with Damian Lillard to talk Bucks early season struggles, his relationship with Giannis and why he’s optimistic the Bucks can get it right si.com/nba/2024/02/27… – 6:51 PM
Sat down with Damian Lillard to talk Bucks early season struggles, his relationship with Giannis and why he’s optimistic the Bucks can get it right si.com/nba/2024/02/27… – 6:51 PM
Anthony Chiang @Anthony_Chiang
As Heat faces Trail Blazers tonight and some wonder what could have been, Damian Lillard named Bam Adebayo to his dream NBA starting five earlier this month. Adebayo: “I feel like it’s respect for what I do” miamiherald.com/sports/nba/mia… – 3:35 PM
As Heat faces Trail Blazers tonight and some wonder what could have been, Damian Lillard named Bam Adebayo to his dream NBA starting five earlier this month. Adebayo: “I feel like it’s respect for what I do” miamiherald.com/sports/nba/mia… – 3:35 PM
Anthony Chiang @Anthony_Chiang
NEW: Damian Lillard named Bam Adebayo to his dream NBA starting five earlier this month. Adebayo: “I feel like it’s respect for what I do.” miamiherald.com/sports/nba/mia… Also, Delon Wright plays his game and shines in Heat debut – 11:43 AM
NEW: Damian Lillard named Bam Adebayo to his dream NBA starting five earlier this month. Adebayo: “I feel like it’s respect for what I do.” miamiherald.com/sports/nba/mia… Also, Delon Wright plays his game and shines in Heat debut – 11:43 AM
StatMuse @statmuse
Left is Dame. Right is Brunson. Both in their 6th season.
26.9 PPG 27.6 PPG
6.6 APG 6.6 APG
44/36% 48/41%
Dame was First Team All-NBA. pic.twitter.com/aT6ACFEz9b – 2:32 PM
Left is Dame. Right is Brunson. Both in their 6th season.
26.9 PPG 27.6 PPG
6.6 APG 6.6 APG
44/36% 48/41%
Dame was First Team All-NBA. pic.twitter.com/aT6ACFEz9b – 2:32 PM
Casey Holdahl @CHold
Micic wearing a pair of brand new adidas Dame 4s, which is five signatures ago – 9:27 PM
Micic wearing a pair of brand new adidas Dame 4s, which is five signatures ago – 9:27 PM
Dave McMenamin @mcten
The NBA used to not allow multiple All-Stars from the same conference wear the same number so you got novelties like Chuck wearing No. 8 (on display in the hallways here in PHX). This year the East had four guys – Tatum, Haliburton, Maxey and Lillard – wear No. 0. pic.twitter.com/HpZ5MnEhHk – 3:57 PM
The NBA used to not allow multiple All-Stars from the same conference wear the same number so you got novelties like Chuck wearing No. 8 (on display in the hallways here in PHX). This year the East had four guys – Tatum, Haliburton, Maxey and Lillard – wear No. 0. pic.twitter.com/HpZ5MnEhHk – 3:57 PM
Frank Madden @fmaddenNBA
Dame was really good, Giannis was Giannis, Brook barricaded the rim and a couple of champs did all the stuff the Bucks need them to do off the bench… pic.twitter.com/d72jAuG9UR – 3:30 PM
Dame was really good, Giannis was Giannis, Brook barricaded the rim and a couple of champs did all the stuff the Bucks need them to do off the bench… pic.twitter.com/d72jAuG9UR – 3:30 PM
Kane Pitman @KanePitman
Coming out of All Star I had thoughts on MKE. Two wins on the road and there has clearly been a different level of engagement under Doc Rivers.
Lillard remains the key and forget the stats, he just looked far more aggressive in wins over MIN and PHI. We’ll see, but good signs. pic.twitter.com/zmmRZIAzMb – 3:25 PM
Coming out of All Star I had thoughts on MKE. Two wins on the road and there has clearly been a different level of engagement under Doc Rivers.
Lillard remains the key and forget the stats, he just looked far more aggressive in wins over MIN and PHI. We’ll see, but good signs. pic.twitter.com/zmmRZIAzMb – 3:25 PM
Ball Don’t Lie @Balldontlie
Dame showing unlimited range to help extend the Bucks lead to 25 in Philly 👀
(via @NBATV)
pic.twitter.com/b6bcFgGLHN – 3:23 PM
Dame showing unlimited range to help extend the Bucks lead to 25 in Philly 👀
(via @NBATV)
pic.twitter.com/b6bcFgGLHN – 3:23 PM
Austin Krell @NBAKrell
The Bucks are fronting Tobias Harris in the post with Damian Lillard and the Sixers either don’t want to make that pass over the top to him or don’t feel confident in making that pass over the top in general.
Either way, oof. – 2:35 PM
The Bucks are fronting Tobias Harris in the post with Damian Lillard and the Sixers either don’t want to make that pass over the top to him or don’t feel confident in making that pass over the top in general.
Either way, oof. – 2:35 PM
Austin Krell @NBAKrell
Sixers down 14 after 1. They have not approached the offensive end of the floor correctly in any way. Can’t buy a 3, which wouldn’t be a big deal if they were getting to the rim. Just 11 twos attempted thus far; unacceptable with Dame, Beasley, and Crowder guarding the perimeter. – 1:42 PM
Sixers down 14 after 1. They have not approached the offensive end of the floor correctly in any way. Can’t buy a 3, which wouldn’t be a big deal if they were getting to the rim. Just 11 twos attempted thus far; unacceptable with Dame, Beasley, and Crowder guarding the perimeter. – 1:42 PM
Keith Pompey @PompeyOnSixers
Dame Lillard has 11 points on 4-7 shooting. Maxey has 5 on 1-4 shooting – 1:40 PM
Dame Lillard has 11 points on 4-7 shooting. Maxey has 5 on 1-4 shooting – 1:40 PM
Gina Mizell @ginamizell
Bucks 35, Sixers 21 at the end of the first. Sixers shot an atrocious 7-of-25 from the floor, including 3-of-14 from deep. They also allowed 10 Bucks fastbreak points. Dame already has 11 for Milwaukee. Reed with 7 points and 3 boards. – 1:39 PM
Bucks 35, Sixers 21 at the end of the first. Sixers shot an atrocious 7-of-25 from the floor, including 3-of-14 from deep. They also allowed 10 Bucks fastbreak points. Dame already has 11 for Milwaukee. Reed with 7 points and 3 boards. – 1:39 PM
Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
Little lookaway dime from Danilo Gallinari to get Bobby Portis a bucket to close out the first quarter and the Bucks lead, 35-21.
Lillard leading the way for the Bucks with 11 points, two rebounds and three assists. Antetokounmpo has seven points, six rebounds and two assists. – 1:38 PM
Little lookaway dime from Danilo Gallinari to get Bobby Portis a bucket to close out the first quarter and the Bucks lead, 35-21.
Lillard leading the way for the Bucks with 11 points, two rebounds and three assists. Antetokounmpo has seven points, six rebounds and two assists. – 1:38 PM
Gina Mizell @ginamizell
Nico Batum is the first defender on Dame…and just got beat for a driving layup on the Bucks’ first possession. – 1:12 PM
Nico Batum is the first defender on Dame…and just got beat for a driving layup on the Bucks’ first possession. – 1:12 PM
More on this storyline
SI: How’s your relationship with Giannis? DL: We have a good relationship. We talk all the time. [Relationships] take time. You have to go through the process of having a relationship. David Vanterpool, he was our assistant in Portland for a long time. The same went for [Jusuf] Nurk [Nurkić], the same went for CJ [McCollum], it was progressive. We just kind of eventually grew into that and I think the same goes with [Giannis]. But because we are stars and we have to be able to work together and we have to continue to get better at it, everybody’s like, ‘We want y’all to be best friends right now.’ But I think the truth of it is you’re not going to become my best friend in three weeks. It’s going to take some time. Because I want to know who you really are. And when I do something you don’t like, how are you going to respect me and respond to me? And when I’m struggling, how are you going to act? And when I’m blossoming? That’s what friends are, like when you struggling, I know what you really are and what you really capable of and I believe it. That’s how you really develop that type of stuff. -via Sports Illustrated / February 27, 2024
SI: Terry Stotts’s exit in the preseason shocked everybody. You played nine years for him in Portland. How did that affect you? Dame Lillard: It was comforting for me knowing that he was there and that it was somebody that I knew and had a significant role on the staff. I think early on, there was a lot of things happening that was familiar. He would be breaking down stuff and I already was on top of it. And as a point guard and as a scorer and somebody who plays a significant role on the team, your comfort with what you’re doing as a team, so you can be able to direct traffic and kind of manage a game is important. And I think when Terry left, that part of it, the familiarity of what we were doing, it kind of left with him. Now I’m like, O.K., what’s this play?’ I was kind of in the figuring out stage. So when you don’t really know stuff like the back of your hand, it is hard to direct traffic and be telling people, ‘I want you right here or there.’ Point guards, especially veteran point guards, man, we play the game differently than a young talented point guard. We are just manipulating everything. And that’s hard to do for the team and for yourself when you’re just trying to learn. -via Sports Illustrated / February 27, 2024
A laminated sheet filled with different playcalls and sets sat on his lap. He says he has a better handle on the team’s terminology now. “Everything is new,” Bucks star Damian Lillard told ESPN. “When you have that, you’re going to have some moments where you struggle a little. Our wins and losses have been more of a sign of those types of things rather than that’s where we are as a team.” -via ESPN / February 26, 2024