Damian Lillard ‘Happy’ Bucks Are Winning, But Being Away From Kids Has Been ‘Draining’

Damian Lillard told NBA reporter Jim Owczarski of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that he’s “happy” the Milwaukee Bucks are winning. 

The Bucks are 38-21 on the season. They are in third place in the Eastern Conference standings. 

However, Lillard admitted that being away from his kids has been “draining.”

“Sometimes if I’m not smiling, it’s not because of basketball,” Lillard said. “That’s my life, my kids, and stuff like that. I am happy. I am happy. We win, man. Being a together team and also knowing how to find a way to win games and work through to get where we want to get to, to me that’s encouraging ‘cause of the experience that I’ve had. So I’m happy with that. We win a lot, man. It could be worse. We could be losing and things could be just a lot worse than it is. I’m happy with it.

“As I’ve said many times, the hardest part with me as a dad is just being away from my kids. That’s the part that’s draining and that can weigh on you when you are somebody that’s in your kid’s life.”

Lillard’s family and friends are still in Portland. The NBA legend requested a trade from the Portland Trail Blazers last offseason. 

Lillard is averaging 24.5 points, 4.4 rebounds and 6.8 assists this season while shooting 42.5% from the field, 34.4% from beyond the arc and 92.5% from the free-throw line.

“I know that I’ll shoot the ball better,” Lillard said. “I feel like I’m not shooting the ball well this season and there’s a lot of things that play into that. Sometimes you just miss. Sometimes you just want it too bad. Sometimes it comes different than what you might be accustomed to. I know that this is a great situation for me and got a chance to win. At some point, the dots will connect and it’ll be what it’s supposed to be and hopefully it’s at the right time.”