Damian Lillard of the Milwaukee Bucks talks about the disappointing 2023–24 season.

Damian Lillard’s first full season with the Milwaukee Bucks was a welcome addition to the team’s fans. His arrival brought some much-needed support to Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was struggling to carry the team back to the Finals on his lonesome.

While their latest playoff foray didn’t result in a championship, the Greek Freak and the Bucks are hopeful that next season will see both Giannis and Lillard be on the same floor and fight together for a shot at the Larry O’Brien trophy.

Since there’s no amount of basketball worth watching for the next two months, some players may take this opportunity to relax and look back to the season that’s just passed. This gave Dame Time the space to reflect on his first season with a team that isn’t the Blazers.

Damian Lillard knows he didn’t perform well in his first season with the Milwaukee Bucks
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In a recent interview, Lillard explained that he understands he fell below his usual standards as he tried to adjust to life in the NBA.

Per a Basketnews.com piece:

“I think when the trade happened everybody was like, well, Milwaukee’s gonna win it, and I think when it didn’t always look the way they wanted it to look or thought it was gonna look, and I wasn’t looking how I looked in Portland, it was like, ‘oh, what’s going on with Dame? Why is Dame not doing this?’” he told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

“For me, I just understand. It’s going to be my 13th season. People get bored with what’s consistent, you know? And also I understand that I wasn’t the best version of myself. I showed up – and I was productive.

And then as you get older, people are like ‘oh, he can’t do this no more, what’s going on?’ It’s just the cycle. I’ve seen it happen to other guys as well. I think I just fall into that category at this point, you know?”

Lillard’s number in his first year with the Bucks is nothing to scoff at. He finished the 2023-24 season with 24.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, 7.0 assists, and 1.0 steals a game.

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Mar 20, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) shoots against the Boston Celtics during the first quarter at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Milwaukee Bucks fans will be hoping that Lillard will be able to help Giannis win his second ring this season. With teams in and around the Eastern Conference building up their squads, it’s in everyone’s best interests that Dame finally steps up to the role that urged the Bucks front office to trade for him in the first place.