Damian Lillard on Giannis Antetokounmpo: With me and him, it was a matter of getting to know each other as men


Damian Lillard: I think with me and (Giannis Antetokounmpo), it was a matter of getting to know each other as men. A lot of times, people say, ‘They need to work out together,’ and all that. And yeah, that can be helpful. But really—he is who he is as a player. I am who I am as a player. So do we need to work that out? I mean—we can. But for me and him, I know how to play the game. He knows how to play the game. It’s a matter of trust. He wants to be dominant and do what he does. I want to be dominant and do what I do. But we’ve got to trust that we both want that for each other—so we can coexist. Like, if I’m bringing the ball up, he’s got to trust that he can run, and I’ll get it to him. If he sets the screen and his man steps up, I’m going to hit him in the pocket.
Source: YouTube

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Eurohoops @Eurohoopsnet
Dame Sarr commented on playing in the Nike Hoop Summit despite Barcelona’s refusal.
He also addressed the club’s announcement against him
eurohoops.net/en/euroleague/… – 5:09 PM
Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
For the fourth time in his last five games, Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded a triple-double (32-11-15) last night.
“The 15 assists to me is what stands out. It just keeps getting unnoticed how well he’s passing the ball and being a playmaker.” – Doc Rivers nytimes.com/athletic/62740… – 2:52 PM
Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
Kevin Porter Jr. summed it up simply last night.
“If anyone’s a fan of basketball and you get to watch — every night —  the dominance of what Giannis does, it’s unbelievable.”
On Giannis Antetokounmpo’s masterclass in Detroit, at @TheAthletic: nytimes.com/athletic/62740… – 10:42 AM
Eurohoops @Eurohoopsnet
Check out last night’s #NBA action, featuring triple-doubles from Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokić, along with another stellar performance from Luka Dončić.
eurohoops.net/en/nba-news/18… – 4:23 AM
Eurohoops @Eurohoopsnet
😅 Giannis blocked his former teammate Malik Beasley and did the shimmy over him but Beasley was not having it!
pic.x.com/1vlzQJLIPu – 1:34 AM

StatMuse @statmuse
Giannis tonight:
32 PTS
11 REB
15 AST
Bucks clinch 5th—first season below 3rd seed since 2018. pic.x.com/zVlBQAhRVw – 9:41 PM

Lori Nickel @LoriNickel
Double technical fouls on Giannis and Malik Beasley
Bucks W April 11
TV: FanDuel pic.x.com/4ip31SdNzq – 9:37 PM

Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
FINAL: Bucks 125, Pistons 119
– Antetokounmpo 32pts/11reb/15ast
– Portis 17pts/10reb
– Porter 16pts/4reb/7ast
– Lopez 15pts/7reb/3blk
– Kuzma 10pts
The Bucks (47-34) have clinched the fifth spot in the East. – 9:33 PM
Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
Giannis Antetokounmpo just blocked that Malik Beasley 3 and shimmied over him.
Unreal. – 9:31 PM
Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
Huge block by Giannis Antetokounmpo on that Jalen Duren dunk.
Bucks up, 122-116, with 31.3 seconds left. – 9:23 PM
Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
Oh my gosh. Giannis Antetokounmpo tried to put a little extra on that dunk and missed it, but the Bucks got it back anyways.
Bucks up, 117-111, with 2:05 left. – 9:20 PM
Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
Heading to the fourth quarter, the Bucks lead, 98-97.
The Bucks are going to be unhappy with their execution during that final stretch without Giannis Antetokounmpo in the middle of the third. Had a number of chances to build the lead, but couldn’t do it. – 8:54 PM
Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
Second game in a row that an inbounder has actually thrown the alley-oop to Giannis Antetokounmpo… – 8:47 PM
Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
Bucks have been way more aggressive in ignoring Ausar Thompson in the second half.
Giannis Antetokounmpo to start the third quarter and now Brook Lopez with Antetokounmpo taking a breather. – 8:42 PM
Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
Giannis Antetokounmpo is just operating at a ridiculous level offensively right now.
He has 21 points, four rebounds and 12 assists in 24 minutes tonight. Manipulating the defense every possession and finding shooters. – 8:39 PM
Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
The Bucks have improved so much at actually getting Brook Lopez the ball in the post the last three weeks.
They started attempting to do it when Lillard first went out, but now they enter the ball to him pretty easily. – 8:36 PM
Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
It’s kind of crazy that Giannis Antetokounmpo’s mid-range jumper has become such a problem that he’s gotten the Pistons twice on a pump fake of a mid-ranger to start the second half. – 8:25 PM
Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
Half: Bucks 68, Pistons 65
– Antetokounmpo 13pts/3reb/8ast
– Portis 13pts/6reb
– Porter 10pts/3ast
– Lopez 8pts/4reb
– Kuzma 7pts
Detroit: 56.5% fg / 52.6% 3pt
Milwaukee: 51% fg / 50% 3pt – 8:07 PM
Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
Giannis Antetokounmpo is just in total control with this lineup.
Four shooters with Porter, Green, Trent and Portis. All three guards are willing screeners in the inverted pick and roll. You can see why this lineup has been so good for the Bucks recently. – 7:48 PM
Scott Agness @ScottAgness
WNBA prospects invited to attend the draft on Monday in NYC:
Paige Bueckers (UConn)
Kiki Iriafen (USC)
Aneesah Morrow (LSU)
Hailey Van Lith (TCU)
Georgia Amoore (Kentucky)
Sarah Ashlee Barker (Alabama)
Sonia Citron (Notre Dame)
Sania Feagin (South Carolina)
Aziaha James (NC – 4:01 PM
Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
Bucks injury report vs. Detroit on Friday:
Out:
Damian Lillard (Right Calf Deep Vein Thrombosis)
Jericho Sims (Right Thumb UCL Sprain)
Doubtful:
Tyler Smith (Right Ankle Sprain)
Probable:
Giannis Antetokounmpo (Left Shoulder Tendinopathy) – 1:34 PM
StatMuse @statmuse
Career-high 3-pointers in a season:
305 — Malik Beasley
301 — Klay Thompson
275 — Damian Lillard
269 — Ray Allen
240 — JJ Redick
240 — Peja Stojakovic
229 — Reggie Miller
Malik Beasley is doing it as a 6th Man. pic.x.com/Kr1cUFRHnl – 10:37 AM

Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
Bucks coach Doc Rivers was asked for an update on Damian Lillard pregame.
Here is what Rivers said: pic.x.com/bWqor1h8Tq – 8:05 PM

More on this storyline

Damian Lillard: I think what it really comes down to is just sacrifice. Yeah, it’s me and Giannis—but we’re surrounded by very good players. So I think the reality of it is: we’ve got to be healthy, and we’ve got to be connected. We can’t all have our own ideas of what it should look like for us to win. It’s got to be: ‘How do we win?’ And however that looks—we’ve all got to be okay with it. That’s really what it comes down to.” -via YouTube / April 12, 2025
Damian Lillard: Because it’s different. It’s not like playing with Khris Middleton or Brook [Lopez] or Bobby [Portis]—you know, guys where it’s still all built around him. He’s never played with a player of my caliber. Even Jrue—Jrue’s a big-time guard. But Jrue’s not a seven-time All-NBA, eight-time All-Star. You know what I mean? Jrue’s great at a lot of different things. In some ways, I think his simplicity might have helped. Because Jrue didn’t care if he averaged 8 or 10 points. Jrue would get a rebound, and if Giannis is clapping for it, he just throws it ahead. Last year in Boston, Jrue was even in the dunker spot. But I’m a guy averaging 30 points a game. It’s a different ballclub. It was a big adjustment for both of us. Especially for me—going into a whole new environment, right? That was a big thing too.” -via YouTube / April 12, 2025
Damian Lillard: “I definitely don’t see myself as somebody who’s just hanging on. I know I’ll be able to play until I’m 39, 40. I could play and be a starter until that point—especially with the way the game is now. You’re starting to see players playing longer and longer. CP, Bron—you’re starting to see them. They might not be who they were at 26, no—but they’re still top-of-the-line players. Because they take care of themselves. I take care of myself. I don’t live a hard life.” -via YouTube / April 12, 2025





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