The Milwaukee Bucks are viewed as the best team in the Eastern Conference ahead of the 2023-24 season, as they acquired superstar Damian Lillard. There is no doubt that they have enough talent to win a championship, but the key will be Lillard coexisting with superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Though Antetokounmpo has frequently dominated the ball with the Bucks, it seems as though he is willing to take a step back and cede ballhandling duties to Lillard.
“For me, now, I’m 28. I’m not a kid no more,” Antetokounmpo said per Eric Nehm of The Athletic. “You cannot have — obviously, you have to have friendly competition within your team to try to push one another and to be great and be better prepared for the game — but this is not, in no shape or form, any competition between me and him, who’s going to have the ball more. He will have the ball more and I trust, I believe he’s going to find me and not just me, he’s going to find our teammates and put us in the right position.”
Though usually teams want the ball in the hands of their best player, Lillard being the primary ballhandler could work out well. That could help Antetokounmpo get easier shots, and relieve the burden on him in the fourth quarter. Antetokounmpo would also be able to focus on the defensive end due to him now having help on the offensive side of the ball.
This past season, Giannis Antetokounmpo averaged 31.1 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game. Though his numbers may end up declining due to the presence of Lillard, it is clear that he will still be an MVP-level player next season.
Damian Lillard Is Ready To Play With Giannis Antetokounmpo
It is fair to say that Giannis Antetokounmpo is the best player that Damian Lillard has played with. In fact, this is the first time Lillard has been on a legitimate contender. Previously Lillard claimed that it is a dream come true to play with Antetokounmpo on a championship team.
“My whole life I’ve been on underdog teams… Now I’ll be able to play with a player that’s better than me and to be a part of a great overall team is a dream come true,”
Given that this is Lillard’s first chance to truly compete for a championship, he will likely do everything to make this situation work. On paper, his skill set meshes well with Antetokounmpo’s, and we’ll see how well they do in the future.
The Milwaukee Bucks Have The Best Duo In The Eastern Conference
It is fair to say that the Milwaukee Bucks have the most talented duo in the Eastern Conference. Giannis Antetokounmpo is widely considered to be a top 5 player in the league, and Damian Lillard is clearly All-NBA-caliber.
The Bucks have the ability to do great things, and they are ready-built for contention. Aside from their superstar duo, they have other quality supporting players such as Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez. The talent to win it all is clearly there.
We will see how this season works out for the Bucks. Though other teams such as the Boston Celtics also made moves in the East, the conference is clearly the Bucks’ to lose.
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