Bucks Zone

Giannis says Bucks need Damian Lillard "to be great in order for the team to be great"

Antetokounmpo knows how important Dame is for the Bucks' success.

Matthew Dugandzic

© Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
In this story:

Damian Lillard has missed three games this season, and the latest one stung the most as the Milwaukee Bucks tasted a bitter 132-116 defeat at the hands of the Utah Jazz. Once Lillard returned to the Bucks' lineup, his fellow superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo let everyone know how much Lillard was missed.

Bucks need Lillard and vice versa

In the game against the Jazz, the Bucks were all sorts of off and were down by 31 at halftime, 77-46. Lillard's absence had a lot to do with that.

"When he went home to take care of business, we played against Utah, and we lost by 30," Giannis shared.

"Actually, we didn't lose by 30; we were down by 30 in the first half. So it's a no-brainer. When he came back, I ran to him, (gave) him a hug, and told him don't ever leave me again. Don't leave my side again. So it's simple as that, man. We need him to be great in order for this team to be great," Antetokounmpo added.

Lillard was great in the Bucks' recent victory over the Detroit Pistons, scoring a season-high 45 points and dishing out 11 assists. Giannis was just as incredible, narrowly missing out on a triple-double with 31 points, 10 boards, and nine dimes.

Appreciation is appreciated

Giannis knows how fleeting confidence can be in the NBA. In one game, players can feel like every shot they throw up is going in, and the next, they can't hit water if they fell out of a boat. That's why, after Lillard's impressive performance, Giannis quickly showed his appreciation for his fellow superstar.

"As good of a player as you are, or you can have accomplished everything in your life, sometimes you want to feel like you're wanted or you're needed and you're not being taken for granted," the one-time MVP said.

"You know, 'Ah, Dame is Dame. Dame is going to do his thing.' Or 'Brook is Brook, and Brook is going to block everything.' Like you gotta keep on reinforcing," Giannis added.

Published
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.