Damian Lillard Reflects on Playing With Giannis, Bucks After Blazers Reunion, 'It Wasn't My Home'

Damian Lillard discussed his two-year stint on the Milwaukee Bucks alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo before coming back to the Portland Trail Blazers.

"Doing something outside of Portland, playing with a great player like Giannis, I think that was a luxury that I hadn't experienced, playing with somebody that's gonna show up, he's gonna compete," Lillard said in an interview with ESPN's Chiney Ogwumike. "So that was fun for me. I could just feel that it wasn't my home."

Lillard spent the first 11 seasons of his NBA career with the Trail Blazers, establishing himself as a franchise icon before he was traded to the Bucks as part of a blockbuster swap in Sept. 2023.

At the time, Milwaukee was just two years removed from capturing a championship and was expected to compete for another title after Lillard joined forces with a two-time MVP in Antetokounmpo.

The Bucks opened the 2023-24 season with a 30-13 record, but still decided to fire head coach Adrian Griffin before ultimately replacing him with Doc Rivers.

Milwaukee struggled under Rivers, but still advanced to the playoffs with a 49-33 record. The Bucks suffered a first-round exit after Antetokounmpo was unable to suit up in the postseason due to a calf injury, though.

The following year, Milwaukee clinched another playoff appearance by finishing at 48-34.

Still, the Bucks couldn't advance beyond the first round of the postseason after Lillard suffered a torn Achilles.

The nine-time All-Star was waived by Milwaukee during the ensuing offseason before returning to the Trail Blazers on a three-year, $42 million contract.

Lillard missed the 2025-26 season while recovering from his Achilles tear, but Portland's all-time leading scorer has been able to suit up this year.

He's scored 44 points and dished out eight assists across the first two appearances of his 2026-27 campaign.