The Milwaukee Bucks have extremely high hopes for the new NBA season, and it is mostly because of the arrival of future Hall of Famer Damian Lillard.
He was acquired about two weeks ago in a blockbuster three-time deal in which the Bucks gave up Jrue Holiday and Grayson Allen, which seemed like a minor price to pay for a seven-time All-Star who is still on top of his game.
Lillard was seen in happy spirits during a team practice recently, via ClutchPoints.
Damian Lillard is all smiles at Bucks practice 🙌
(via @Dame_Lillard / IG) pic.twitter.com/j1UgBklBwK
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) October 10, 2023
Even though Holiday is a very good player, Lillard represents a major upgrade offensively, and he is arguably the NBA’s deadliest player in crunch time.
He averaged a career-high 32.2 points to go along with 7.3 assists a game last season, and he will be able to take plenty of pressure off Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Along with the Boston Celtics, the Bucks have been picked as the favorites to win the world championship this season, and it is no wonder why when one considers that much of the core that brought them the 2021 title is still intact.
Khris Middleton, Brook Lopez, Bobby Portis, and Pat Connaughton are still around, and they will provide the new star duo of Lillard and Antetokounmpo with plenty of support.
The future is now for Milwaukee — Antetokounmpo told the New York Times recently that he will not sign an extension with the team unless he is confident it will be able to contend for titles moving forward, and at least for now, it will do just that.
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Kevin Garnett Reveals His Expectations For Bucks This Season