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Damian Lillard is paying attention.
The Milwaukee Bucks guard knows there has been a lot of speculation about his happiness in Milwaukee, and he addressed it Friday during a press briefing ahead of the team’s playoff series with the Indiana Pacers.
“I saw someone say ‘Dame isn’t happy in Milwaukee’ or something like that,” Lillard said. “I know the truth.
“I like the situation I’m in. I also know what happens outside of basketball that wears me down sometimes. People are going to make comments. People are going to say things.
“And if things don’t turn out the way they said they would, no one will ever come to them and say, ‘All right, you said that. Now what do you have to say about that?’ They are never held accountable for what they say publicly.”
Stephen A. Smith talked about Damian Lillard in ESPN’s First Take
ESPN pundit Stephen A. Smith made headlines earlier in the week on “First Take.”
Smith and Shannon Sharpe wondered if the Bucks would move Lillard if they lost in the first round of the playoffs.
“I’m not talking about his game. He’s not happy out there,” Smith said. “He has a lot of distractions, which are his business, and we wish him nothing but the best, because a lot of us wouldn’t be able to handle that as well as he does.”
“But nonetheless, whatever support system you’re looking for… It’s one of those situations where, if you’re not happy in a situation, even for external reasons, and I know he wanted to go to Miami, let’s call it that which is you have all this going on, it’s a lot to deal with.
These views were also reiterated on “The Stephen A. Smith Show.”
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Lillard already spoke about his happiness in Milwaukee with the Journal Sentinel in February. He has also been open about the aftermath of his divorce.
“I’m happy,” he told the Journal Sentinel matter-of-factly. “I’m happy. We’re winning, man.
Stephen A. Smith is a longtime Milwaukee foil
Smith has already angered Milwaukee residents.
During the 2021 NBA playoffs, Smith called Milwaukee a “terrible” city.
But Smith was not banned from entering the city. He recently made an appearance on Thanasis Antetokounmpo’s “Thanalysis” podcast.
The Indiana Pacers were a popular choice to beat the Bucks in the NBA playoffs
The sixth-seeded Pacers have been a trendy pick to beat the third-seeded Bucks, especially with Giannis Antetokounmpo’s uncertain health status. Smith picked Indiana to win the series.
Lillard sees those opinions as well, although the 33-year-old said he doesn’t take outside opinions as personally as he did in his youth.
But he said he loves being in Milwaukee because of the expectations that come with the Bucks being a contender.
“One thing I’ve been thinking about all week is that I’ve gone my whole career wanting the opportunity to win,” Lillard said. “And I always thought I had a chance to win.
“But being in this situation. I keep going back to how I felt when I was traded here, realizing the opportunity that was in front of me.”
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