Damian Lillard had left Portland to increase his chances of winning an NBA ring but his season ended prematurely. The Bucks were thus eliminated by the Pacers in the first round of the playoffs.
Obviously, the former Blazer has reason to be frustrated, with Milwaukee's complicated season, ended with an injury to Giannis Antetokounmpo and his own Achilles tendon problems against Indiana.
“When you're in the playoffs and you're eliminated early, it always hurts to keep watching,” he concedes. “ In the first round of the playoffs, everyone is excited. The more the playoffs go on, the more the excitement builds, there is more and more attention and fewer and fewer teams. »
And it’s a new generation that has got its hands on this postseason. “When you look now, there's only four teams left and you're like, 'Those aren't even the teams everyone was talking about having a chance. Now they really have a chance to win a ring.'” continues Damian Lillard.
A new generation in power
With the Nuggets, Bucks and Lakers quickly eliminated, a new generation of players who have never won showed up. Anthony Edwards or Tyrese Haliburton were the leaders of teams that spent rounds eliminating champions. Above all, Jayson Tatum and Luka Doncic are in excellent position to compete in the Finals and one of the two should win their first ring, at 26 and 25 years old.
At 33, Damian Lillard is still chasing a title and seems frustrated to see the young guard take power. “Usually I would have supported the team that has won a ring before, so no one wins one before me,” he admits. “But these four teams… Whoever wins… Someone will get their first ring before me this year… I'm becoming a bit of a hater at the end. »
And the leader has not finished suffering, while he expects to see an even younger player break through…
“I think next season people will talk about Victor Wembanyama as the best player in the league,” affirms Damian Lillard in conclusion.
