Damian Lillard doesn’t believe he’s breaking down as a player

Damian Lillard doesn’t believe he’s breaking down as a player

The biggest trade last year came before the season started, when the Portland Trail Blazers flipped Damian Lillard in a three-team blockbuster that sent Jrue Holiday, Deandre Ayton and Toumani Camara (plus draft capital) to the Portland Trail Blazers with Jusuf Nurkic, Grayson Allen, Keon Johnson and Nassir Little heading to the Phoenix Suns.

While he was still productive, it was an uneven season for Lillard and the Milwaukee Bucks in his first year alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo. It ultimately ended up with Milwaukee getting eliminated in the first round by the Indiana Pacers in six games.

As Lillard approaches his age-34 season, he’s adamant that he’s not slowing down as a player in any capacity.

“I’m not a player that’s breaking down,” Lillard recently said to Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “I live a clean, good, healthy life, so I can do it. I can do the same (expletive) I did two, three years ago. I can do it right now.”

He averaged 24.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, 7.0 assists and one steal on 42.4 percent shooting, including 35.4 percent from 3-point range and 92.0 percent from the free-throw line last year. He earned his 8th All-Star bid, though it eventually got leaked by head coach Doc Rivers that Lillard wasn’t in proper shape heading into his 12th season.

Lillard will be entering a pivotal second year with Antetokouumpo. Lillard, Brook Lopez nor Khris Middleton aren’t getting any younger, with the latter two having chances to enter unrestricted free agency next offseason; Pat Connaughton and recently-signed Delon Wright will also both be entering their age-32 season, forming one of the most experienced rotations leaguewide.

It should be a smoother second season for Lillard, however. Though their core will need to remain healthy if they want any chance at getting back to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2020-21.

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