This is not how Damian Lillard — or the Bucks — pictured this going.
Last summer, it appeared that Lillard could go to the Heat until Trail Blazers general manager Joe Cronin decided not to negotiate with the star’s preferred destination, and the Bucks swooped in and executed the blockbuster of the summer.
Unfortunately for Milwaukee, the cost of a package headlined by defensive stopper Jrue Holiday seemingly proved to be a detriment, as the former All-Star eventually found his way to the Celtics, and Boston has been the betting favorites to win its first NBA title in 16 years for most of the season.
Damian Lillard walks across the court in the third quarter against the Indiana Pacers during game six. Getty Images Lillard and the Bucks, on the other hand, were ousted by the No. 6 seed Pacers in six games in the first round of the NBA playoffs, as Milwaukee dealt with a plethora of injuries.
“I don’t think I would’ve went into the summer feeling good about much if I felt like I let the team go out there and me not at least try,” said Lillard, who played in Game 6 and was upgraded from doubtful to suit up despite missing Games 4 and 5.
Lillard missed multiple games with an Achilles injury and came back to drop 28 points on 7 of 16 shooting in the series finale.
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But Giannis Antetokounmpo missed the entire series while nursing a calf strain, and the Bucks ended up succumbing to Indiana.
“It’s definitely disappointing because you know how much better of a team we are when he’s on the floor and how much things change when he’s on the floor,” Lillard told reporters after the loss. “You play an entire 82-game season. You go through training camp, you go through all the ups and downs of a NBA regular season, and you get to the point where, all right, now we’re going to play for everything. And you’re not whole.
“You don’t have the best opportunity to reach where you want to reach,” he added. “So it is frustrating, it’s disappointing, but it’s part of the game.”
Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) dribbles the ball while Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell (9) defends during game six of the first round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports And in terms of returning, Antetokounmpo revealed that he wasn’t even close to getting on the court.
“I did all the tests, these like protocols you have to follow and have to check the boxes… I wasn’t even close,” he said.
Despite bringing in Doc Rivers halfway through the season in hopes of making a long run, the Bucks are now out of the playoff picture.
