The return of the NBA is fast approaching. September 30th was the unofficial first day of school for NBA Players as teams hosted their NBA Media Day. All-NBA point guard Damian Lillard is gearing up for his second season with the Milwaukee Bucks. If you're tardy to the party, the Portland Trail Blazers traded Lillard to the Bucks last summer.
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Fans Concerned For Damian Lillard During NBA Media Day
Lillard was caught on video during Bucks Media Day. And while he seemed to be going through the motions taking photos and shooting content, fans noticed an incredibly somber look on the face of the star point guard.
"Should've been a heatle man he looks miserable there," one fan said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
"Why does he look depressed?" another fan asked.
"Ruining your loyalty and legacy to chase a ring you're not going to get and losing your family in the process does something to you."
Damian Lillard, Year 13. pic.twitter.com/G60oXqvbyg
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) September 30, 2024
Most fans speculated that Lillard's disengaged look could be linked to him being unhappy with the Bucks. If you remember, Lillard being traded to the Bucks was a surprise. For the majority of the saga, it was thought to be a bidding war between the Brooklyn Nets and the Miami Heat.
Bucks Star Gets Candid About Offseason Regimen
Lillard had a disappointing first year in Milwaukee. Injury woes led to them being bounced in the first round by the sixth-seeded Indiana Pacers. Now as he gets set for year two with the Bucks, Lillard revealed that condition is something he zeroed in on during the offseason.
"As much as it was a challenge for me as far as conditioning, it was more of a mental challenge than anything else," Lillard said.
"I think that's my greatest takeaway from it. The mental strength, realizing there's a lot more in there than you think. When you are tired, kind of just dying in the middle of (training) it. To come out the other end of it after spending that time with it, it really did something for me mentally."
Lillard also said that his teammates and coaches will get the "real" version of him this season.
"My teammates and coaches going to get the real version of me this year," he said. "I just know what type of year I had and what type of summer I had and preparation I had. They're going to get the real version of me."
