[Saba Sports News] Following the Milwaukee Bucks’ 108-97 preseason victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night, Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks’ star player, made an amusing observation about his new teammate, Damian Lillard.
Antetokounmpo immediately shared with the media that on the very first play in which Lillard received the ball, he was double-teamed. Antetokounmpo found this surprising, given that it was only a preseason game. He remarked, ‘I’ve never seen someone double-teamed on the 1st play of the game. It was a surprise. It’s a preseason game. Not a playoff game, not a regular season game, not an in-season tournament game… It’s insane.’
Lillard made his first basket as a member of the Bucks during the game, sinking a three-point shot around the seven-minute mark of the second quarter. He concluded his debut game with 14 rebounds, three assists, and two rebounds.
The 33-year-old Lillard experienced a tumultuous off-season, having spent 11 seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers before requesting a trade, specifically to the Miami Heat. Many months later, he was eventually traded to the Bucks, forming a partnership with Antetokounmpo.
Lillard commented after the win that pairing him with Antetokounmpo is a recipe for success, and he saw glimpses of that potential in the preseason, according to Azarly. He stated, ‘He can dominate a game and win you a game… The first couple of plays in the game, they trapped me, and the person I was passing the ball to was Giannis. We can do this all night.’
Nevertheless, the two superstar players will continue to refine their chemistry as they have two more preseason games remaining before the Bucks’ regular season opener against the Philadelphia 76ers on October 26