Almost three months without “Dame Time” is a long time. Since his arrival in Milwaukee, Damian Lillard had still not scored a basket at the buzzer. Fiserv Forum spectators were waiting for this. They therefore waited until mid-January and a thrilling and suspenseful meeting against the Kings.
“ It's not my first time », he smiles. There were five seconds left in overtime, the Bucks were two points behind and the playmaker moved up the field before diving in for a 3-pointer from almost ten meters.
“I couldn’t shoot 2-pointers, I knew that. It was a good shot”confides the former Portland star. “I was serene”says Malik Beasley. “It was definitely Lady Time. »
How did Giannis Antetokounmpo, author of a triple-double (27 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists) and who did not touch the ball on this last possession, experience this moment? “He came up and I saw the ball in the air. I told myself it was going to fit. And it came in. It was like everything was in slow motion.”declares the Greek, who assures that it was “the most difficult shot” that he saw come back with his life, to win a match.
A necessary “Dame Time”
Damian Lillard finished this meeting with 29 points at 9/23 shooting including 5/13 at 3-pts, with 8 assists in 41 minutes. This last award-winning basket was also the 2,500th of his career. And to celebrate, “Dame Time”, hand on wrist, was out, to the delight of fans and teammates.
“I continue to tell them: if you look at my career, I haven't always made the gesture with the wrist. I do it when necessary. And for this match, it was necessary”estimates the All-Star, fifth best 3-point shooter in history, behind Stephen Curry, Ray Allen, James Harden and Reggie Miller.
Really ? “These are matches that must be taken,” assures Damian Lillard. “In March and April, we will look back and say to ourselves that we let this match, this one, slip away. It's a good thing to take this match. »
| Damian Lillard | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2012-13 | POR | 82 | 39 | 42.9 | 36.8 | 84.4 | 0.5 | 2.6 | 3.1 | 6.5 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 3.0 | 0.2 | 19.1 |
| 2013-14 | POR | 82 | 36 | 42.4 | 39.4 | 87.1 | 0.4 | 3.1 | 3.5 | 5.6 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 2.4 | 0.3 | 20.7 |
| 2014-15 | POR | 82 | 36 | 43.4 | 34.3 | 86.4 | 0.6 | 4.0 | 4.6 | 6.2 | 2.0 | 1.2 | 2.7 | 0.3 | 21.0 |
| 2015-16 | POR | 75 | 36 | 41.9 | 37.5 | 89.2 | 0.6 | 3.4 | 4.0 | 6.8 | 2.2 | 0.9 | 3.2 | 0.4 | 25.1 |
| 2016-17 | POR | 75 | 36 | 44.4 | 37.0 | 89.5 | 0.6 | 4.3 | 4.9 | 5.9 | 2.0 | 0.9 | 2.6 | 0.3 | 27.0 |
| 2017-18 | POR | 73 | 37 | 43.9 | 36.1 | 91.6 | 0.9 | 3.6 | 4.5 | 6.6 | 1.6 | 1.1 | 2.8 | 0.4 | 26.9 |
| 2018-19 | POR | 80 | 36 | 44.4 | 36.9 | 91.2 | 0.9 | 3.8 | 4.6 | 6.9 | 1.9 | 1.1 | 2.7 | 0.4 | 25.8 |
| 2019-20 | POR | 66 | 38 | 46.3 | 40.1 | 88.8 | 0.5 | 3.8 | 4.3 | 8.0 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 2.9 | 0.3 | 30.0 |
| 2020-21 | POR | 67 | 36 | 45.1 | 39.1 | 92.8 | 0.5 | 3.8 | 4.2 | 7.5 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 3.0 | 0.3 | 28.8 |
| 2021-22 | POR | 29 | 36 | 40.2 | 32.4 | 87.8 | 0.5 | 3.7 | 4.1 | 7.3 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 2.9 | 0.4 | 24.0 |
| 2022-23 | POR | 58 | 36 | 46.3 | 37.1 | 91.4 | 0.8 | 4.0 | 4.8 | 7.3 | 1.9 | 0.9 | 3.3 | 0.3 | 32.2 |
| 2023-24 | MIL | 36 | 35 | 43.1 | 35.3 | 92.0 | 0.6 | 3.8 | 4.4 | 6.8 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 2.5 | 0.2 | 25.1 |
| Total | 804 | 36 | 43.9 | 37.1 | 89.6 | 0.6 | 3.6 | 4.2 | 6.7 | 1.9 | 1.0 | 2.8 | 0.3 | 25.2 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
