Bucks' Damian Lillard Dismisses Critics: 'I'm Not a Player That's Breaking Down'

Going into his second season with the Milwaukee Bucks, Damian Lillard insists he's not feeling the effects of aging.

Speaking to Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Lillard explained he's "not a player that's breaking down" coming off a disappointing debut season in Milwaukee.

"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," Lillard added.

Expectations were high for the Bucks after acquiring Lillard from the Portland Trail Blazers in September 2023. Things really never came together for the group for several reasons, including injuries and a mid-season coaching change after a 30-13 start under Adrian Griffin.

Given how late in the offseason Lillard was traded, his chemistry with Giannis Antetokounmpo really didn't develop until the final month of the regular season.

Even before the Bucks started to figure things out with their two stars, Lillard was having a down season by his standards. He was still named to the All-Star team and averaged 24.3 points with 7.0 assists per game, but his field-goal percentage (42.4) and three-point percentage (35.4) were his second-lowest since 2016-17.

Lillard played 73 games in the regular season, but missed two first-round playoff games against the Indiana Pacers due to an Achilles injury.

In his final two seasons with the Blazers, Lillard only played in 87 out of a possible 164 games. He underwent abdominal surgery prior to the start of the 2021-22 campaign that continued to flare up throughout the year before he was shut down.

This is going to be a crucial season for the Bucks because of the price they paid to get Lillard. They don't have a first-round draft pick until 2031 and are over the second apron, so their ability to make moves that upgrade the roster is extremely limited.

A healthy Lillard and Antetokounmpo—he missed the entire postseason series vs. the Pacers due to a calf injury—is the best chance the Bucks have to be a title contender. They will face stiff competition in the Eastern Conference from the reigning NBA champion Boston Celtics, the New York Knicks with Mikal Bridges and Philadelphia 76ers with Paul George.