Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard insisted he’s not getting ready for the basketball rocking chair, and we have every reason to believe him. OK, many reasons.
After all, he averaged 24.3 points and 7.0 assists in his first season with the Bucks, seemingly fitting in well with Giannis Antetokounmpo and the rest. It didn’t lead to drastic improvements in Milwaukee — and the trade that delivered Lillard from the Portland Trail Blazers ended up being more sizzle than anything.
Lillard turned 34 years old last month, about the time a lot of smaller guards begin to lose their legs. Not always, but a lot. He insisted that won’t be the case with him.
“I’m not a player that’s breaking down,” Lillard told Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “I live a clean, good, healthy life, so I can do it. I can do the same (expletive) I did two, three years ago. I can do it right now.”
That’s actually up for debate, but there’s no doubt Lillard is still very good. No matter, some suspect the Milwaukee portion of his career will end up being fairly forgettable. He’ll put up some good stats, and the Bucks will go nowhere, one opposing scout predicted to Hoops Wire.
For now, the Bucks are considered behind at least the defending champion Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference, and perhaps the Indiana Pacers and Cleveland Cavaliers, too.
Lillard indicated that doesn’t bother him.
“The fact that we’re there and we’re under the radar is perfect because they’re gonna think nothing of us and then they’re gonna be like…You gotta face the truth, eventually,” he said. “That’s how that usually works.”
Looking for the latest NBA Insider News & Rumors?
Be sure to follow Hoops Wire on TWITTER and FACEBOOK for breaking NBA News and Rumors for all 30 teams!
