Giannis Antetokounmpo Gets Real On Why He And Damian Lillard Are A Better Duo This Season

Giannis Antetokounmpo revealed why he and Damian Lillard have turned their partnership around in their second season together.

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Credit: Candice Ward-Imagn Images

The Milwaukee Bucks have flipped the narrative on their 2024-25 NBA season in a matter of weeks. After a weak end to last season and a 2-8 start to open this year, the Bucks have re-established themselves as contenders by going 12-3 in their last 15 games.

The Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard duo are excelling this season, with Giannis revealing the reason behind their new success to ESPN’s Mallika Andrews.

“We’re able to sacrifice more. Last year, a lot of people put a lot of expectation on us to be Kobe [Bryant] & Shaq, Kareem [Abdul-Jabbar] & Magic [Johnson], and we were together in a room for maybe a week. That’s not possible. Now it’s the second year of us playing together and with time, our relationship got better, our chemistry got better, and our connection has got better. I’m very happy.”

The Bucks have made it to the Emirates NBA Cup Finals and are facing the OKC Thunder for the trophy. The score is 51-50 in the Bucks’ favor at halftime, with the result hanging in the middle still.

Giannis is averaging 32.7 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 6.1 assists this season, on pace to repeat his historic feat of averaging over 30 points on better than 60% from the field. Lillard is averaging 25.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 7.5 assists, looking like he’s in better shape than last season, and has adjusted well to the Bucks after a season of awkward play.

Giannis has played some of his best basketball, especially offensively, in the last two seasons, so the Bucks’ No. 1 option still performs at the level of a Finals MVP. Lillard has better production and efficiency this season than last, and this could be the perfect No. 2 option role for him alongside a dynamic frontcourt star like Giannis.

This season started with Giannis in trade rumors as the Bucks look like a potential lottery team in the weak East. With the Bucks having no long-term assets to their name, it seemed like a Giannis trade would be the only way for the franchise to build to a new future, but that sentiment has wildly shifted.

Shams Charania has confirmed that the Bucks will not trade Giannis this season, with their renewed competitive focus likely playing a part.

“There will be no Giannis Antetokounmpo trade this season. Between the Cup & moving forward… his priority is putting himself in a position where he can have long-term sustained winning wherever that may be. Right now, it’s Milwaukee.”

Giannis getting traded was a far-reaching scenario from the moment it had been brought up earlier this season, with the Bucks’ recent success ensuring that the Greek superstar is content with his current situation. A Giannis trade would likely wreck the receiving team’s depth anyway, so Giannis would have a major load to carry on a new franchise. Might as well stick with doing that for the Bucks.

A championship will be hard to earn for the Bucks, but with a duo like Giannis and Lillard, anything can be possible depending on the form of both. This season, they’ve looked like a great duo with the potential to challenge for a title.

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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher ReportYahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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