There have been rumours that Bucks star Damian Lillard is unhappy in Milwaukee, and Dame has addressed them directly.
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith made the bold comment earlier this week that if the Bucks do not win a championship, the team should consider dealing him because he is “not happy” and “miserable”.
“I saw somebody say ‘Dame is not happy in Milwaukee’ or something like that,” Lillard told reporters on Friday. “I understand the truth.
“I enjoy the circumstance I’m in. I also understand that my life outside of basketball may be draining at times. People are going to leave remarks. People are going to say something.
“And if things don’t go as planned, no one will ever approach them and say, ‘All right, you said this. Now, what are your thoughts on this? They are never held accountable for their public statements.
Lillard has revealed that he has been dealing with some personal issues, such as relocating away from his home and three children in Portland and getting divorced from his wife, whom he had been with for almost a decade.
But Dame hasn’t let it show on the court, as he averages 24.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, and seven assists per game while shooting 42.4 percent from the field and 35.4 percent from three.
His regular season averages are slightly lower than they were in Portland last season, but he was a one-man band there, making it easier to fill the stat sheet.
Lillard now shares the court with another superstar, Giannis Antetokounmpo, as well as All-Star veterans Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez.
Because of their expertise, the Bucks are under a lot of pressure to perform well in the playoffs.
Despite the strain, Lillard says he embraces the expectations.
“One thing that I’ve been thinking about all week is I’ve gone my whole career wanting the opportunity to win,” he remarked. “And I always believed I had a shot of winning.
“But, in this circumstance. I kept thinking back to how I felt when I was traded here, understanding the potential in front of me.
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