Damian Lillard Recalls Facing off Against ?Coach? Kobe Bryant in His First-Ever NBA Game: ?He Was Out There Snapping on Everybody?

The Milwaukee Bucks’ latest signing, Damian Lillard, is doing wonders for his franchise. Not only is his partnership with Giannis Antetokounmpo great, but he is showing off his individual brilliance as well. Even in his NBA debut against the Los Angeles Lakers, rookie Lillard displayed a level of ability and composure that wowed both fans and experts.

And recently when Lillard appeared as a guest on the Knuckleheads podcast, he spoke about his NBA debut. There, he recalled his performance and how it was to face the legend Kobe Bryant.

The Dame time talks about his first time in the NBA

On the podcast, they asked Lillard as to who was the first person’s a** he bust when he made it to the league. To which Dame replied, “I’d say Steve Nash, he was the first person. It was opening night, the first game of my career, and I had 23(pts) and 11(assists). We beat the Lakers when they had Nash, Kobe, Dwight, Pal. All of them was there. I had a big game off the rip.”

To that one podcaster asked him, “How was that, Kobe was on the court?” To which Lillard hilariously said, “Yeah, he was hot too. That was my first time, my first game, so s**t he was, you know, snapping on everybody like he was really like a general out there.” Lillard posted a double-double with 23 points and 11 assists to lead the Portland Trail Blazers to a 116-106 victory on opening night, exhibiting composure beyond his age.

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His performance prompted similarities to basketball legends such as LeBron James. Lillard, however, became the first player to conclude his debut with at least 21 points and nine assists since LeBron James in 2003. The 7x All-Star also joined Oscar Robertson and Isiah Thomas as the only individuals in NBA history to have at least 20 points and 10 assists in their first games. But after switching up his team after 11 seasons, was his debut with the Bucks as impressive as this one?

How was Dame’s recent debut for the Milwaukee Bucks?

Just like his debut in the NBA, his recent debut for his new franchise also made it to the history books. Damian Lillard set a new franchise record with 39 points against the Philadelphia 76ers in his debut with the Milwaukee Bucks. The former Trail Blazers great broke Terry Cummings’ 34-point debut performance in 1984 to set a new team mark for the most points scored in a player’s debut.

Lillard made critical plays down the line, including a game-winning 3-pointer, then sealed the victory with his impeccable free-throw shooting. His 17-of-17 free-throw shooting performance demonstrated his control under pressure. Despite the 76ers’ late comeback attempt, Lillard’s offensive brilliance and calmness ensured Milwaukee’s victory. This was an important phase in Lillard’s career, as he began his new adventure with the Bucks after 11 seasons in Portland. The offseason deal that brought Lillard to Milwaukee had an instant impact, and fans are ready to see more thrilling moments from the 33-year-old point guard.

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