Damian Lillard Turns Attention Towards Super Bowl After Sending Heartfelt Message to Hubie Brown

After months of waiting, the day of reckoning is finally here! Super Bowl LIX is underway and in full swing. Football fans in America and around the world have gathered around their television screens with beer and buffalo wings, or are lucky enough to watch the game from the stands of the Caesars Superdome, as the Kansas City Chiefs attempt to secure a three-peat. For NBA star Damian Lillard, the focus was on prioritizing his tasks for the day, between his love for basketball and football.

The Milwaukee Bucks star recently took to X as the memorable NFL game was in its early stages. With no additional context, Lillard simply wrote “These refs starting early lol”. Then again, knowing how much attention the world was paying to the Super Bowl, the NBA player did not have to go into detail about the meaning of his remarks.

However, for those who may not be big NFL fans, Lillard’s tweet referenced the NFL referees allegedly showing bias in Patrick Mahomes’s favor. The theory that the on-game officials allegedly favor the Kansas City Chiefs star has been running around for quite a while now. While no proper evidence has been presented to attest to this claim, it still hasn’t stopped people from forming speculative theories.

One instance of alleged bias was called when Texans’ Will Anderson got hit with a roughing-the-passer penalty on Patrick Mahomes. Later, a roughness call was made for a hit during Mahomes’ slide, even though the helmets reportedly collided away from him.

Steelers player Cam Heyward criticized these instances. In a statement, he said, “Yeah, Mahomes is going to get calls. He’s an MVP, he sells tickets. The second they think it’s questionable, it’s probably getting thrown. He’s the Bruce Bowen, the Manu Ginobili—flopping and flailing.” Even fans have not been letting the theory slide. From AI-generated pictures of Patrick Mahomes kissing the referee to Riot Comedy’s iconic roasts, the bias theories continue to exist. Now, even Damian Lillard added fuel to the fire.

However, the point guard should have waited a while before speaking out. After all, by halftime, it was the Philadelphia Eagles who were in the lead by a 24-0 score! Well, what’s done is done. The NBA star can now sit back and enjoy the game. After playing well against the Philadelphia 76ers, and paying tribute to an NBA legend, Lillard deserved the break.

Damian Lillard paid tribute to Hubie Brown after the Bucks’ win: “Mandatory that we pay our respect”

Very few people have given as many years to the basketball world as Hubie Brown. After all, he had spent 15 years coaching teams like the ABA’s Kentucky Colonels (1974-76), NBA’s Atlanta Hawks (1976-81), New York Knicks (1982-87) and Memphis Grizzlies (2002-05). Then, he spent the next 35 years of his life as a national TV and radio analyst, who went on to cover 18 NBA Finals! Now, at the ripe age of 91, the legend called his last game.

It was fitting that he chose a Milwaukee Bucks matchup as the final one to call. After all, his first NBA coaching job was as an assistant with the Bucks on Larry Costello’s staff. Brown was part of a two-season stint that began in 1972. Being honored in this way also compelled one of the Bucks’ star players to pay his tribute to the analyst.

After the game, Damian Lillard stated “Where our league is, what we’re able to do, as a brotherhood and as a league, you gotta pay love and respect to the people that pave the way and the people who have been around from the beginning. And, I know he started when he was 24 years old, and now his last game, he’s 91. That’s a lifelong investment in care and love into the game. And, it’s mandatory that we pay our respect to him”. Hubie Brown, who listened to the player’s remarks too, couldn’t help but look pleased.

Both the NBA and NFL saw some big events go down in the span of a few hours. Fortunately, Damian Lillard was able to prioritize his needs of the required hour well. Now, he can sit back and relish in the fact that any alleged bias cannot save the Kansas City Chiefs!