Lillard reflects on his time with the Bucks: He won't regard the NBA Cup as a championship and feels honored to have played alongside Giannis.

Lillard is now a member of the Portland Trail Blazers for the second time. After being waived by the Bucks on July 6, he re-signed with the Blazers, the team that drafted him in 2012. This marks the end of his two-year journey with the Bucks, and unfortunately, he did not achieve the championship goal he sought when he requested to leave the Blazers in 2023.

On July 26, Beijing time, Lillard spoke with the Milwaukee Sentinel, reflecting on his last two seasons with the Bucks, including his most memorable moments, the experience of winning the NBA Cup, playing alongside Giannis, and addressing comments regarding his or the team's unmet expectations.

Question: Over the past two years, injuries significantly impacted the Bucks' performance. Did you feel your time with the Bucks was incomplete due to injuries?

Lillard: I think that's part of basketball. For me, it doesn't feel incomplete. I just feel that this is basketball. I believe that to achieve significant victories, you need a bit of luck. You have to stay healthy and be at your best at the right time, and we just had bad luck.

In my first season (2023-24), people had many complaints, saying the Bucks were this and that, but we were the second seed for almost the entire season, only dropping to the third seed in the last game. Then in the first round of the playoffs, Giannis was out for the entire series, not playing a single game. I also missed two games in the first round. I got injured at the end of the third game during a close overtime match, injuring my Achilles, which caused me to miss the fourth and fifth games. This year, I missed the first game, played the second and third, and then got injured again at the start of the fourth game. So, we just couldn’t stay healthy. But during that time, Giannis and I were the highest-scoring duo. We also won the NBA Cup. I think many people have various expectations of me personally, hoping I achieve this or that, but I was playing alongside a scorer averaging over 30 points per game, and he played the game the same way I have throughout my career. He plays aggressively, constantly attacking, and even so, during my two years with the Bucks, I was able to average 25 points and 7 assists.

So I feel that people say I’m (not the same as I was before) because of my playing style with the Blazers, which is a bit unfair. When I was with the Blazers, I had full control of the ball, so it looked different. But in terms of my actual performance, I think the evaluation of me is not fair. Because how many people can average 25 points and 7 assists as the primary scorer, let alone play alongside a player like Giannis? However, I won’t say this experience was incomplete. I think we just couldn’t stay healthy. That has been our biggest obstacle every year.

Question: You mentioned winning the NBA Cup. While it’s not your ultimate goal, does it hold significance for you?

Lillard: Clearly, I won’t regard it as a championship or equate it with the O'Brien Trophy, but it’s an honor that everyone wants. Everyone fights for it and cares about it. It’s a high-stakes event with playoffs and important games, and we defeated the team that later won the championship (the Oklahoma City Thunder) in the finals. So, as I said, I won’t equate it with a championship, but when there’s an honor at stake, we won the games, which shows that as long as we stay healthy, we can achieve anything. It’s just that we couldn’t stay healthy throughout.

Question: You had some exciting moments with the Bucks. Which moments left the most impression on you?

Lillard: The first game of the season was a significant moment; it was the season opener against the Philadelphia 76ers, my first official game with the Bucks, and I performed exceptionally well—an unforgettable memory. Being selected as an All-Star starter was also memorable. Hitting a game-winner against the Sacramento Kings, with fans eagerly anticipating my buzzer-beater, was a fantastic experience. There were also several games where I was on fire—like in the first game of the 2024 playoffs, where I scored 35 points in the first half, which was my first playoff game with the Bucks. All these moments, along with the warm welcome from fans when I was traded to the Bucks, were very special.

Question: You were looking forward to playing with Giannis. What was it like to play alongside him?

Lillard: It was truly a great experience to play with such an outstanding player; it’s a privilege in itself. On some nights, I could step on the court while he took on a lot of the load, and if he was in great form that day, even if I only scored 12 points, we could still win. So having him on the team felt special. Plus, during games, you know that no matter what happens, I have a teammate like him beside me, and together we can beat any opponent.

As a duo, we could really go on a run and control the game. I’m not sure if I’ll have that experience again in the future. It’s been great to play with him, to partner with such a dominant player who cares so much about the game; it’s truly an honor and a privilege. I care a lot about the game myself, even when I’m frustrated or not performing well; I still care about the team’s performance, and I give my all—everything I do, from how I take care of my body to how I train and prepare, is to put myself and the team in a favorable position, and he’s the same way, bringing the same drive and focus to everything he does. I really appreciate that.

Question: During your time partnered with such a dominant player, you were selected as an All-Star twice—how do you feel about your overall performance with the Bucks?

Lillard: I believe that when people look back on this period, they will recognize my performance with the Bucks. After all, before I arrived, which point guard could perform like I did? I mean, there wasn’t anyone. They won a championship before I came, but for me personally, regardless of my situation, I gave it my all. I stepped on the court, did what I needed to do, made adjustments, and never backed down.

The stats are there; we just couldn’t stay healthy. I think when people really look back on this history, if someone wants to say these were my two down years, they will ultimately have to admit that if this is considered a decline, then what exactly is the standard for evaluating this player?