Damian Lillard appears to be content with his current circumstances. By the end of September, the Portland Trail Blazers had moved him to the Milwaukee Bucks after a lengthy and exhausting offseason. This combination may provide the Bucks the best chance to win the championship next season. And the seven-time All-Star is confident in the team around him.

His teammate, Giannis Antetokounmpo is probably the best player in the league at the moment. Lillard recalled one incredible moment that happened during a practice session that had him awestruck. “It was in practice and I come off of a screen and the guy is fronting him. And I’m looking at it like obviously I can get it to him, but the weakside defender is there on the opposite block and I’m like, ‘I don’t want them to get it,’” he said

He added, “In his head, he’s thinking like, ‘Nobody’s going to get the ball if you throw it up there. I’m going to get it before anybody else gets it.’ So that was different for me. And I threw it up. He jumped up, caught it, turned and he just two-hand dunked it real quick. And it was like, ‘I’ve never played with nobody that’s capable of that.’” 

Antetokounmpo is well-known for his thunderous dunks and ability to body defenders. Giannis was small and lacked muscle bulk when he first entered the NBA. But he’s currently perhaps the best player in the game. But it was his teammate’s belief in his work that most impressed Damian Lillard.

Damian Lillard is at ease playing with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton.

The Bucks held a media day shortly after Damian Lillard was dealt to the organization. His two-time MVP teammate remarked that he has a lot of things to work out before the 2023-24 season. He stated that all he wanted was for Lillard to be himself on the floor and to have the same amount of space to work with. Both players are coming off 30-point-per-game seasons, which makes their combo even more dangerous.

Dame also spoke about his intentions with the team. He said, “I don’t plan on having the ball in my hands the whole time. And if Giannis doesn’t have it, I know Khris is a handler, a shotmaker, a playmaker and we gotta play off of each other. I think that’s how we’re going to be our best. We gotta leave room for Khris to be Khris.” Lillard apparently talked with Khris Middleton, who was the Bucks’ second option up until the trade. Khris told Lillard to do what he does best, which is a great sign as all players seem to be on the same page.

The Bucks, led by Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo, are dead set on winning a championship together. After everything Giannis said over the offseason about not staying if his teammates didn’t want to win, bringing in Lillard was their best option. This will help keep the crew encouraged to keep going.