Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) lifts up the NBA Cup whereas ahead Giannis Antetokounmpo (34), left, and heart Brook Lopez (11), proper, rejoice after their staff’s victory within the championship sport of the NBA Cup basketball event in opposition to the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photograph/Ian Maule)
LAS VEGAS — Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo stood side-by-side throughout the postgame celebration after the NBA Cup closing. Antetokounmpo was holding the MVP trophy. Lillard was holding the larger trophy.
And it was a second that Lillard had waited a very long time to savor.
Article continues after this commercial
He’s been a rookie of the yr, a 3-point contest champion, an All-Star MVP, even a member of the league’s seventy fifth anniversary staff. And whereas his greatest purpose continues to be profitable an NBA championship, the importance of profitable the NBA Cup was not misplaced on the 13-year veteran.
READ: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks silence Thunder for NBA Cup title
“I’ve had a number of expertise individually the place I’ve had accomplishments and stuff,” Lillard mentioned after the Bucks beat the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder 97-81 on Tuesday evening within the Cup closing. “However to have some staff success and win one thing and be the final staff standing on this event, it feels nice.”
The Bucks have a championship coach in Doc Rivers, the core of a staff that gained a title in 2021 — Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, Brook Lopez, Bobby Portis and Pat Connaughton amongst them — and one of many sport’s elite guards in Lillard. Beginning 1-6 and 2-8 this yr may need raised some eyebrows, however the Bucks insisted that they by no means doubted themselves.
Article continues after this commercial
They’ve been one of many league’s hottest groups since that terrible begin and rolled via the in-season event with a 7-0 report. Profitable the NBA Cup could be a reminder — maybe an pointless one — of the Bucks’ potential.
“I feel it reminds us that we are able to beat anyone,” Rivers mentioned. “And we don’t care if it tells all people else that. We solely care about us. It’s what I mentioned on the primary day of camp. I additionally mentioned we are able to lose to anyone if we don’t play proper.”
Antetokounmpo and Lillard are main the way in which, and that may’t be a shock.
Each are enjoying at their perennial All-Star degree. They’re the highest-scoring duo within the league, combining to common greater than 58 factors per sport. They had been the very best two gamers on the ground within the NBA Cup closing, Antetokounmpo getting a triple-double — 26 factors, 19 rebounds and 10 assists — on his option to MVP honors, and Lillard scoring 23.
READ: NBA Cup: Giannis makes ‘profitable performs’ Bucks wanted in semis win
12 months 1 of their pairing after Lillard wound up in Milwaukee after 11 years in Portland wasn’t good. It was good, not nice. 12 months 2 is clearly higher. It’s one other signal of what could be for the Bucks going ahead.
“Individuals wished to place me with Giannis and assume it was simply going to be good instantly as a result of we’ve each been high-level gamers,” Lillard mentioned. “However I come from a state of affairs the place I’ve all the time had the ball, and he’s had a decade of him having the ball and enjoying a sure means.
“I feel time is the No. 1 factor,” he added. “It simply took time for us to get to know one another higher as individuals. You’ll be able to’t simply belief anyone that you just’re paired with whenever you don’t actually know who they’re, how they assume and the way they function. So, I feel time has helped us.”
Time has helped Lillard as properly.
He averaged 24.3 factors and seven assists per sport final yr. These are all-world numbers for almost anybody. He didn’t assume a lot of how he performed, although, and he by no means acquired to the purpose of feeling completely comfy in a brand new position, a brand new place, with a brand new staff.
He does now.
“Getting wholesome, getting my coaching in and having my thoughts proper coming again into the season was all it actually was for me,” Lillard mentioned. “After we misplaced within the playoffs final yr, I mentioned it proper after the sport. ‘Individuals will see.’”
Seeing is believing.
There’s nonetheless greater than two-thirds of the common season left. Cleveland — Milwaukee’s first opponent when the Bucks return to regular-season play on Friday — and defending NBA champion Boston have clearly been the very best two groups within the Jap Convention up to now. There are tons of challenges forward and there certainly shall be loads of ebbs and flows.
Your subscription couldn’t be saved. Please attempt once more.
Your subscription has been profitable.
“I’m so joyful for Dame that we acquired our first trophy collectively,” Antetokounmpo mentioned. “That is only the start. Now we have to maintain on bettering and getting higher, and we shall be higher.”
