Damian Lillard's time with the Milwaukee Bucks went far from expected. Two early playoff exits were far below overall team expectations, but as Lillard highlighted in a recent piece from The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Jim Owczarski, those early exits need context. They certainly didn't happen for lack of trying or effort on his end, as plenty of people have tried to argue in recent weeks.
"So I think it’s kind of unfair how people was like Dame (isn’t the same) because of the way I played in Portland. I had the ball all the time, so it just looked different... I thought we just couldn’t stay healthy. I think that’s the biggest hurdle. That was our biggest hurdle and each year that was the case.”
Health has been the ultimate grim reaper for the Bucks lately
Was Damian Lillard Damian Lillard when he played for the Milwaukee Bucks? No, he didn't average close to 30 points and wasn't anywhere near the MVP conversation like he was in his Portland days, but he was still a two-time All-Star and one of the best second options out there. Lillard formed the highest-scoring duo in the NBA alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo. In most cases, that will work.
Yet, the injury bug bit again and again. It's been the same story over and over for the Bucks since they emerged as the last team standing during the 2021 postseason.
In the 2024 NBA Playoffs, Giannis Antetokounmpo didn't play a second, and Lillard tried gutting out an Achilles injury but just couldn't do it. In 2025, Lillard missed time due to a blood clot, but returned only to tear his Achilles in the postseason. Injuries robbed these two of showing what they could have offered on the big stage.
Lillard would never come out and say it, but poor roster and coaching decisions also played a part in the team's downfall during his brief tenure.
What is done is done. Lillard is gone, heading back to Portland after being waived by the Bucks, where he can go back to being close to his family. Milwaukee has retooled the roster to field a younger and more athletic group. Everyone gets what they want. There will be plenty of reflecting about the last two years, but there's no denying just how much injuries were the most prominent factor in it.
Plenty of people have called this a disastrous move for the Milwaukee Bucks and an utter failure. Sure, it would be nice to have the draft picks that were used to acquire Lillard back, but the deal did help secure Giannis' signature on an extension, and it has also gifted them with the perfect Brook Lopez replacement in Myles Turner. Those are valuable moves for Milwaukee.
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