Damian Lillard Shuts Down Trade Chatter With 2-words After Bucks’ Premature Playoff Elimination

When a team gets a superstar, the immediate result everyone hopes for is a ring. Especially, when the said superstar has exhibited such trust in the franchise superstar. And also probably because it’s time for the said team to win their next championship. This was the situation that Damian Lillard walked into. The Lillard trade was a huge affair, with many organizations making their moves to get some ‘Dame-Time’.

Despite Lillard’s personal choice being the Miami Heat, his ultimate destination was the Milwaukee Bucks. Apparently, that’s what the Portland Trail Blazers, his home for 11 years, believed to be the best course of action. And the right place to realize his goal of a title. Anyway, with much noise and even bigger expectations, Damian started his work.

Unfortunately, this season’s opponents weren’t to be taken lightly. Having to play without Giannis Antetokounmpo for the whole of the postseason along with his own injuries finally ended in the Bucks’ defeat to the Indiana Pacers. Naturally, the next topic of interest would be Lillard’s trade, given how unhappy he’s been in Milwaukee. Was he, really, though?

We’ll come to that in a moment. But first, Damian Lillard put an end to all trade rumors with two simple words. When he was asked what his plans were next and if he was excited to continue, Lillard said, “I’m extremely excited.“

He had mentioned once earlier that in life, things don’t go as planned. And there certainly were things that the team as a whole had to figure out before they could actually work together. Or work off each other’s strengths. Aside from the things mentioned above, there were a few other factors that seemed to have provided fuel to trade rumors.

“Its never been an issue with Milwaukee”: Damian Lillard opens up about his experience

Damian Lillard isn’t exactly someone who plays with a smile on his face (that honor goes to the ridiculously photogenic Kelly Oubre Jr.) or even walks with one. But that does not automatically mean that he is unhappy. The star guard has admitted, on several occasions, that there have been hard times, both personally and professionally.

“But it’s never been an issue with Milwaukee,” Lillard made sure to point out. He further explained that he gets to play with a team that only has a championship in mind. It includes none other than the “Greek Freak” and other veteran players.

Although he wasn’t able to perform as well as he was capable of, injuries did play a role in that. Nevertheless, he promised the Bucks fans one thing: the Damian Lillard they saw this year won’t be the same they see next. And his reasons? “I’m going to have a full season of knowing who the coach I’m going be playing for. Having a better idea of the guys, having a regular offseason, and being able to actually train.”

The 33-year-old also said that since he knew he was getting traded, he had to make sure not to get hurt. And that meant not playing to his full capacity. And now that he’s settled into Milwaukee, Lillard wouldn’t have to worry about anything else. “So, I think people will be really surprised to see how much of an impact these things actually [can] have.”