Bucks Zone

Damian Lillard says building a meaningful relationship with Giannis Antetokounmpo will take time

Dame says building a relationship with his fellow superstar needs to be organic.

Jonas Panerio

© Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

When eight-time All-Star Damian Lillard was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks, joining two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, many expected them to immediately run the league. After all, it seemed like an ideal fit; Lillard would provide the perimeter scoring and shooting, while Giannis would provide the defense and interior dominance. 

However, things haven't exactly gone exactly to plan. The Bucks have, at times, struggled to find their groove, leading to questions about their cohesion on the floor and chemistry off it.

In a recent interview, Lillard addressed these concerns and emphasized that building a meaningful relationship with Antetokounmpo will take time. He acknowledged that it can be difficult for two stars to come together and adjust their games to fit alongside each other, but he remains optimistic that they will figure it out eventually.

Relationships don't happen overnight

Lillard, who spent 11 seasons in Portland, shared it took him a while to build meaningful bonds with the people he worked with in the Trail Blazers organization.

“[Relationships] take time. You have to go through the process of having a relationship. David Vanterpool, he was our assistant in Portland for a long time. The same went for [Jusuf] Nurk [Nurkić], the same went for CJ [McCollum], it was progressive," Lillard shared to Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated.

"We just kind of eventually grew into that, and I think the same goes with [Giannis]. But because we are stars and we have to be able to work together and we have to continue to get better at it, everybody's like, 'We want y'all to be best friends right now.' But I think the truth of it is you're not going to become my best friend in three weeks. It's going to take some time."

Get to know Giannis

Lillard said that being a core piece of the franchise, he needs to build a substantial relationship with Giannis. This means not only learning Antetokounmpo's tendencies on the floor but more so off it. Friendships don't blossom overnight, but as they continue to play together and build chemistry, their relationship will only grow stronger.

"I want to know who you really are. And when I do something you don't like, how are you going to respect me and respond to me? And when I'm struggling, how are you going to act? And when I'm blossoming? That's what friends are, like when you struggling, I know what you really are and what you really capable of, and I believe it. That's how you really develop that type of stuff," Lillard said.

"And I just think we still in that process. But we do talk. We are cool. And we both want to make it work. And in this situation, I'm the new guy. I think if he came to Portland, he would be in the same process. I would be comfortable, and I would know what's going on, and he would be the one trying to figure it out, and it would be the same process."

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Jonas Panerio
JONAS PANERIO