When Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks to a championship in 2021, it was proof you don’t need to team up with other stars to win at the highest level.
In Portland, Damian Lillard has yet to come close to reaching that milestone but says he still uses Giannis’ success in Milwaukee as a model for his own career.
“Giannis, people said he needed to leave Milwaukee, they’ve been struggling in the playoffs, they’ve been losing in the first round — all these different stuff,” Lillard said to ESPN’s Baxter Holmes. “I’m sure that championship is very, very fulfilling. I’m sure it freed him. He’s playing with a different type of peace and comfort.”
Of course, Giannis didn’t win the title on his own. He had guys like Bobby Portis, Jrue Holiday, and Khris Middleton to help him out, and they came up big when the Bucks needed them most.
Lillard hopes to do something similar with the Blazers. As a small-market team with a limited history of team success, Dame is really the only one keeping them relevant today.
Like Giannis a few years ago, fans and experts have been practically begging Lillard to leave the Blazers and chase a title somewhere else. So far, Damian has resisted that urge and remains committed to the team that drafted him.
Can Lillard Ever Win A Title In Portland?
The Trail Blazers have had some nice teams in the past, and they were on a nearly-decade-long streak of playoff appearances before finally falling off last season.
Sadly, Portland’s inability to attract a second star to play with Lillard has held them back from true title contention, and it’s why so many people across the league want to see him go somewhere else.
But at only 32 years old, Lillard still has time to get it done in his city. If he continues to be patient and let his game speak for itself, players will notice and may consider teaming up with Dame as an opportunity to expand their own careers.
Until Portland lands that co-star, however, they may never be able to compete with the like of Memphis, Denver, and both Los Angeles teams. Still, stranger things have happened in the NBA, and Dame might just be good enough to shock the world on his own.
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