Bucks Zone

Damian Lillard shares his anticipation ahead of Blazers game: "I'm not really caught up into it"

Dame says he’s looking forward to next year’s regular season game against the Blazers, as it will be his Portland homecoming.

Matthew Dugandzic

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The Milwaukee Bucks' next regular season home game holds a chunk of significance in both basketball and personal context for Damian Lillard as this will serve as his much-awaited reunion with the franchise he embraced as his home in the last 11 years – the Portland Trail Blazers.

While many are now scrambling to take a seat and tune to his upcoming matchup with the Blazers, Lillard personally has an enticing approach as he is about to observe his ex-ball club playing on the floor of Fiserv Forum this weekend as his newfound opponent.

Just a typical one

Speaking in front of reporters after the Bucks picked up a 131-128 In-Season Cup victory over the Washington Wizards, Damian Lillard was asked about his initial thoughts about their next game in which he'll face his former team for the first time.

While he did encircle Sunday's date for his first meet-up with the Blazers, Lillard put it bluntly that the excitement level isn't as high as many anticipate.

The Bucks' next regular season matchup against the Blazers on Jan. 31 – with Portland as the host – is what the All-Star is waiting to happen, considering that it'll be his homecoming to Rip City.

"I thought I would be anticipating more, but I'm not really caught up into it," Lillard said. "I think it'll be something that I think about more when we go back to Portland. But them coming here, it just feels like another game where I'm gonna see people that I used to spend a lot of time with. The team is really different."

Rip City's finest

For 11 seasons, Lillard established himself as Portland's undisputed hero and the greatest Blazer ever to play.

Holding a career regular-season average of 25.2 points, 6.7 dimes, and 4.2 boards in 769 games as a Trail Blazer, Lillard enchanted the entire Rip City nation with his guts and sheer determination. When urgency is ticking, the superstar guard activates "Dame Time" with his ice-cold marksmanship and deadly clutch persona. 

Under his leadership, he ushered the franchise to eight straight playoff appearances, including a trip to the Western Conference Finals in 2018-19.

As he was dealt to the Bucks in a blockbuster trade last offseason, he leaves the Portland franchise as its best all-time scorer (19,376) and three-point shooter (2,387). Dame is even ranked no. 1 in the team's Player Efficiency Rating (22.5) and Offensive Win Shares leaderboard (86.8).

GAME DAY PREVIEW AND INJURY REPORT: Bucks' Damian Lillard faces the Portland Trail Blazers for the first time in his career

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Matthew Dugandzic
MATTHEW DUGANDZIC

Matthew finished his bachelor's degree in Economics (Management) at the University of Split and got his master's degree in the same field at the University of Zadar. Whether it is playing the game as an undersized 6'3'' power forward or simply watching it, Matthew can't get enough of it. After all, he has been an avid NBA fan since the 2000s. But don't get him wrong, as Matthew still loves the old-school NBA and is a true student of the game. From on-court moments to off-court stuff, whether it's about the stars of modern-day basketball or legends of the game, Matthew covers every category of the NBA world and basketball in general, as long as it makes for an engaging and exciting story.