Damian Lillard is preparing for his first regular season game as a member of the Bucks, following the tumultuous offseason that resulted in him landing in Milwaukee, as opposed to his preferred destination, the Heat.
Recently, Lillard spoke with Melissa Rohlin of Fox Sports and said that the Bucks were the best “basketball situation” for him after being traded by the Trail Blazers.
Lillard is entering his 12th NBA season and has yet to reach the Finals. In terms of winning a title, he said the Bucks give him the best chance to do that.
“I think this is the best basketball situation for me,” Lillard said last week. “The depth is what makes me think this is my best chance to win. We’ve just got to be healthy and we’ve got to be together.”
Milwaukee and two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo agreed to a three-year max contract extension on Monday, locking down their franchise cornerstone throughout the duration of Lillard’s current contract.
Lillard had been vying for a move to Miami throughout the offseason, where he’d hoped to team up with Jimmy Butler, but the two sides failed to reach an agreement on what would’ve been a blockbuster trade. Instead, the Bucks entered the fray and ended up landing the superstar point guard.
The 33-year-old told Fox Sports that he’d spoken to Butler since being dealt to Milwaukee.
“We’ve always been in some form of contact with each other,” said Lillard. “And I said it, initially I was like, ‘I want to go to Miami.’ He was a big part of that. It didn’t happen. I’m here now. But our relationship will be the same. The same respect. It’s just something that didn’t happen. It was out of his control and mine.”
The Bucks had a disappointing run in the playoffs last year, losing as the East’s No. 1 seed in the first round against the No. 8 seeded Heat. Despite their early exit last season, Lillard maintained that playing in Milwaukee gives him the best chance to win a ring.
