Giannis Antetokounmpo discusses Damian Lillard’s position with the Bucks in real time.

In an honest conversation on The Athletic, Giannis Antetokounmpo gave his newest All-Star teammate command of the Bucks. Giannis asserts that the Bucks are now Dame’s team and that they will follow him wherever he leads them. 

“His biggest fan is me,” Antetokounmpo declared. “I ride with Dame until the f—ing end, good or terrible. Dame and I bike together. Like I’ve mentioned this numerous times. His team is this one. He is going to catch the ball in the closing stages. Nothing further will be done by us. There’s no other way for me to say it. There’s nothing more that I can say. Ultimately, though, he must also believe it. 

Damian Lillard has been embraced by Giannis Antetokounmpo since the first day the trade was made. Dame’s position as a multiple All-Star, top 75 player, and one of the greatest shooters of all time persuaded the Bucks to go all in for him this past September, even though his entrance came at the expense of Jrue Holiday and numerous choices. Regretfully, the best-laid plans did not bring them together. Lillard is dealing with his family disintegrating while he undergoes this change of scenery. He’s already acknowledged that going through a divorce is hard for him personally, and the fact that his small children are involved only makes things more harder. In such a short period of time, Lillard’s life has undergone significant changes both on and off the court after 11 years with the Trail Blazers.

Naturally, we are already aware of how the Bucks began their 2023 summer. The Bucks were so humiliated and ashamed after their surprising upset loss to the eighth-seeded Heat that they believed that change was the only thing that could be done. The situation has unfortunately become worse since Lillard arrived.

What Is The Milwaukee Bucks’ Problem?
Although the Bucks’ record doesn’t warrant concern, their season has been nothing but mayhem from the start. It began with Terry Stotts’ abrupt departure a few days before the season began, even though he had spent years collaborating with Damian Lillard. The Bucks changed the game plan in a secret team meeting early in the season, essentially making Adrian Gryphon adopt Mike Budenholzer’s defensive philosophy.

The tipping point for Adrian Griffin’s stay came when even Giannis started to express some scepticism towards the coaching staff. The Bucks quickly started looking for a new coach, and they ultimately decided on Doc Rivers, a seasoned coach with several years of experience. Whatever your opinion of Rivers or Giannis, it’s difficult for anyone to play under those circumstances, and the Bucks star wasn’t shy about how it has impacted his team’s concentration.

Damian Lillard is still getting off to a somewhat easy start against the Bucks as the newest player and new face in town, but if these issues carry over into the postseason, the buzz will get louder. The Bucks’ success will primarily depend on their defence, where they now rank 17th in defence efficiency. They are hoping that players like Giannis, Brook Lopez, and rookie Patrick Beverley can help the team forge a distinctive identity ahead of the postseason.