The Damian Lillard era in Milwaukee has concluded, and it did not meet the high expectations that many held. The partnership between Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo did not surpass the first round of the playoffs in 2024 and 2025, and they failed to achieve 50 wins in their combined seasons. Lillard, however, does not view his time in the East as falling short, attributing their struggles to injuries.

Both Lillard and Antetokounmpo faced injuries during the playoffs. Notably, Lillard suffered a torn Achilles tendon, which concluded his time with the Bucks and set the stage for his return to the Portland Trail Blazers.

Lillard stated, “I think you gotta be a little bit lucky to win big… each year that was the case for us.” Despite not winning a championship, he emphasized that their lack of success was mainly due to health issues.

In his two seasons, Lillard averaged around 25 points per game, a drop compared to his earlier performance with the Blazers, but he maintained a strong overall contribution.

He criticized the perception of his performance during this stint, saying, “I think it’s kind of unfair… because how many other people have averaged 25 a game… let alone playing with somebody like Giannis?”