The past few days have been a rollercoaster of emotions not only for NBA fans but also for the players themselves. A series of events are finally tied together on a string. Damian Lillard, who demanded a trade from the Portland Trail Blazers, has finally achieved his desire. The trade will elevate him into the realm of a legitimate championship for the first time in his career; that too alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo. While this news brings happiness to Dame, Giannis is experiencing a mix of emotions. The saying, Be careful what you wish for because it might come true, perfectly encapsulates Antetokounmpo’s emotions.
On the one hand, Giannis has gotten the hint that the Milwaukee Bucks are serious about forming a championship-caliber unit. His comments regarding his openness to leave the organization have now been acknowledged. In the process, he has lost a star player, teammate, and brother in Jrue Holiday.
Giannis Antetokounmpo speaks on losing Jrue Holiday
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Minutes after the shocking trade, Bleacher Report reveals that Lillard is soaking things in and is still processing the shock of the move. Lillard has been sitting on the trade for 2-3 months now, and, certainly, he wasn’t expecting the Bucks as a landing spot.
Meanwhile, Giannis Antetokounmpo is visibly grappling with the ramifications of these changes. When asked to open up about the same, Giannis began by recognizing Holiday’s immense finals contributions against the Phoenix Suns. Further, he commented, “It’s a bittersweet day for the city of Milwaukee. You get Dame, who is a great player, but you lose a great guy. Jrue took us to the promised land.”
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Although Giannis expressed his displeasure with the Jrue’s trade, he acknowledged that it was a purely business decision devoid of any personal interest. With 10 years into the league, he recognizes Bucks’ objective to provide him with the best opportunity to secure another championship.
After venting his emotions, Giannis swiftly transitioned back to his winning mindset. Following his well-wishes for Jrue Holiday, he shed light on the ultimate goal of winning the championship. Further, he notices the same hunger in Damian Lillard and believes that he will challenge the team to excel.
Moreover, it is said that Giannis is the first person to text Lillard after the trade happened. In the text, Giannis wrote, “Let’s get this f****ing championship.”
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Jrue Holiday wanted to be a lifetime Buck
Before departing, Jrue Holiday had one more year remaining on his contract with the Milwaukee Bucks. Furthermore, it coupled with a player option worth a hefty $37.4 million for the 2024-2025 season. With that, speculations were suggesting that the Bucks might encounter challenges in extending their contract with the versatile two-way guard. However, Holiday recently made his sentiments clear in an interview with Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. He claimed that if it were entirely up to him, he would prefer to retire as a member of the Bucks.
He passionately expressed, “Before I even won here I think I said I’m a Buck for life and I mean that like deep in my heart. I don’t want to play for any other team. I think we have a chance to continue to do great things as the Bucks team and organization so I want to be in Milwaukee.”
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Watch This Story – Jimmy Butler Accuses Damian Lillard of Tampering After Giannis Antetokounmpo Betrayal: “You Didn’t Hear It From Me”
Back in mid-November 2020, a late-night trade by the Bucks acquired Jrue Holiday from the New Orleans Pelicans. Jrue’s immediate impact was undeniable. He helped propel Milwaukee to an NBA championship that very season. Furthermore, Holiday left an indelible mark during that postseason run, particularly with his exceptional defensive clamps.