This is a year of life and death for the Milwaukee Bucks. Last season, under pressure from Giannis Antetokounmpo, they took the plunge and signed Damian Lillard. Unfortunately, things didn’t go exactly as planned. While many expected a return to the NBA Finals or perhaps a second title, they didn’t make it past the first round.
A lot of that is due to Giannis and his injury. Despite another MVP-caliber season, his campaign stalled heading into the playoffs. As a result, the Bucks were without their best player, and the result was predictable.
That didn’t stop the critics from turning their attention to Damian Lillard. Despite the absence of his co-star, he was still a top 75 player of all time. Plus, his explosiveness is why Milwaukee was willing to pay a hefty ransom for him. Unfortunately, Dame didn’t have the best year imaginable in the Midwest.
While his 24.3 points and 7.0 assists were in line with his career numbers, Lillard was in his prime. At nearly 30 points per game, he wasn’t at that level with the Bucks. At 34, questions about a possible decline then became legitimate.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Damian Lillard and Milwaukee Bucks Updates
Heading into next year, his status and production remains an underrated topic in the Eastern Conference. And it could end up deciding the fate of Milwaukee and the Greek Freak as well. But, if the superstar himself is to be believed, there is nothing to fear or watch out for.
Damian Lillard feels he’s not done yet
At his peak, Damian Lillard was a top-10 offense all by himself. With near-limitless range and the confidence to match, he was a nightmare to cover. A famous image of Austin Rivers thanking God after a Dame miss illustrates his impact better than direct statistics ever could.
This season hasn’t gone that way. His scoring is at its lowest level since 2015, nearly a decade ago. Likewise, his shooting has also plummeted, finishing at 42% and 35% from the field and long range, respectively.
For many, the problem was adjusting to a new system. Many pointed out that the Bucks were Dame’s first experience playing alongside a legitimate MVP candidate. But for most, the problem was age. Typically, players start to regress at age 33, and Dame was considered part of the norm. Then a surprising interview with Doc Rivers brought those doubts into the spotlight.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Damian Lillard and Milwaukee Bucks Updates
According to Doc, the former Portland Trailblazers player was out of shape at the start of the season. Rather than risk injury and missing out on a potential trade in the offseason, Damian took a break from his offseason workouts last year. Perhaps a change in that regimen could revitalize his career.
But when it comes to talk of the game declining with age, the eight-time All-Star was quick to dismiss those ideas.I’m not a player who falls apart. I live a clean, good, healthy life, so I can do it. I can do the same thing I did two or three years ago. I can do it now.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Damian Lillard and Milwaukee Bucks Updates
History has taught us that it is impossible not to count Damian Lillard. In recent times, player longevity has seen a dramatic increase. Last month, the trio of Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and LeBron James, all older than Dame himself, led Team USA to a gold medal as its three best players. So it would not be surprising if Lillard were to be added to that list. However, the last two healthy seasons have not gone ideally for the 12-year veteran.
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