Bucks Zone

Giannis Antetokounmpo calls Damian Lillard a “little version of me”

Giannis has a bold assessment of Damian Lillard.

Jonas Panerio

© Rob Ferguson-USA TODAY Sports
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Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard have been teammates for only a few weeks, but so far, the relationship between the two top-tier superstars is developing smoothly. As a matter of fact, Giannis has gone as far as to say Lillard is like a smaller version of himself.

Similarities between the two

As incredible as Giannis is on the floor, he is just as low-key off it. He shies away from the spotlight when the game’s over, electing to head home and be with his family. Lillard, for all his offensive explosions and unforgettable clutch shots, is known as one of the more humble stars in the league. Giannis sees this as common ground between him and the man known as “Dame Time.”

“I feel like it's like a little version of me,” Antetokounmpo said. “A guard version. ... Quiet. Goes about his business. Takes care of his family. Shows up. Practices really hard. Helps his teammates when he needs to be vocal.”

While Giannis and Lillard are familiar with each other’s body of work, they’re still getting to know one another as teammates and perhaps as friends. Like any relationship, they’ll need time to build a bond and understanding, but the early returns indicate the Bucks may have something special.

Do this all night

Two games into their alliance with the Bucks, Lillard is noticing things that they can take advantage of in every single game. With his incredible shooting ability that makes him a threat the moment he crosses halfcourt, teams often blitz him on pick-and-rolls. Dame recognizes these situations and then feeds the ball to Giannis for an easy basket or kicks out to one of the Bucks’ shooters on the perimeter.

“First couple plays, they blitz me, they trap me, and the guy that I'm releasing the ball to is Giannis. So I'm just like, 'Uh, we can do this all night.' You know what I mean?” shared Lillard.

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Jonas Panerio
JONAS PANERIO