It’s difficult for NBA teams to remain relevant when they fail to meet expectations or complete blockbuster deals.
A Milwaukee Bucks star isn’t thrilled the organization is flying under the radar entering the 2024-25 season, but by now, he understands how the NBA operates.
“Yeah, I think people are definitely (overlooking the Bucks), and that’s how the league is,” Damian Lillard told Slam Online’s Alex Squadron on Saturday. “It’s like, on to the next thing. There are younger teams on the rise, you have teams that made big free agency moves, teams that made trades, all types of things took place. So obviously that’s going to be what’s sexy.”
“When I got traded to Milwaukee, it was like, Oh, the Bucks gonna win! Everybody just jumped on it, you know? So when something major happens or something big happens for a team, especially if it’s already a good team, like of course (that’s the reaction). Rightfully so, all of those types of teams are going to be mentioned at the top.”
To Lillard’s point, the Bucks are becoming old news in the fast-moving NBA. Last September, the Portland Trail Blazers traded Lillard to Milwaukee, immediately transforming the Bucks into a serious championship contender.
With Lillard, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, and Brook Lopez forming a daunting Big 4 in Milwaukee, the expectations for the Bucks were sky-high heading into the 2023-24 season.
Milwaukee finished the regular season with a 49-33 record and the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference but had to enter the postseason without Antetokounmpo due to a disastrous calf injury.
Lillard, Middleton, and Lopez carried the load for the Bucks offensively, averaging 31.3, 24.7, and 17.7 points, respectively. However, it wasn’t enough to guide Milwaukee to a first-round series victory over the Indiana Pacers. It also didn’t help that an Achilles injury kept Lillard sidelined for games four and five.
With age and health playing a factor for the Bucks this season, it’s understandable why individuals aren’t as excited about Milwaukee this year. It would be irrational to rule out an NBA finals appearance for this group, but this is undoubtedly a prove-it year for Lillard and the Bucks.
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