After just two seasons since trading with the Milwaukee Bucks, Damien Lillard will play for the new team for the 2025-26 NBA season.
Following the disappointing end of the 2025 NBA playoffs, futures from Damien Lillard and Giannis Anteto Compo have been raised in question.
While Antetokounmpo remains a member of the organization, the same cannot be said about Dame as Bucks abandoned signing Myles Turner in a four-year, $107 million deal.
Even Giannis didn’t see this move coming. This is evident in a look back at the Greek freak’s plans with Lillard just six months before the news.
The Bucks had a terrible start to the 2024-25 NBA season. However, throughout the season, the franchise was stable and eventually finished as the fifth seed of the Eastern Conference.
Speaking of their journey, winning the 2025 NBA Cup was undoubtedly a highlight of the Bucks season.
After Giannis lifted the NBA Cup trophy, he dropped a massive forecast for his partnership with Lillard.
“I’m very happy with Dame. I’ve put together my first trophies. It’s just the beginning. We have to keep improving, keep getting better. We’ll get better.”
Giannis appears trapped and ready to enjoy more success with Lillard, but the Bucks have another plan. After all, just six months later, the Bucks separated the dynamic duo of Giannis and Lillard.
Apart from winning the NBA Cup, the Bucks’ Antetokounmpo-Lillard experiment failed as the duo failed to make the playoff time.
For Lillard, who has become an unlimited free agent, the first step is to get healthy when he tores his Achilles tendon during the 2025 postseason.
Following on, he has plenty of options to choose from as his next destination in his NBA career. Patrick Beverly suggests that the dam can join the Golden State Warriors, but the La Lakers and Boston Celtics have also expressed interest in a nine-fold NBA All-Star.
Meanwhile, Antetokounmpo is still recovering from losing Lillard. However, the Bucks will need Antetokounmpo next season to step up as passersby.
After all, the team lost a major point guard. He produced assists just over 7.0 per game. Another option for Giannis is to set up a timeline that will reassess his future in Milwaukee.
Either way, the next few weeks will be extremely important to former teammates Giannis and Dame.