The Milwaukee Bucks’ ambitions to win a third NBA title fade away with each passing day.
Giannis Antetokounmpo paints a somber picture where he carries the team on his back in most games. With Damian Lillard returning to the side, Bucks fans’ hopes rose to unparalleled heights, only to come crashing down.
The veteran guard scored 14 points and looked like a shadow of the guy who sent teams packing. Returning to the lineup after suffering from deep vein thrombosis, Lillard looked short of conditioning but fans wasted no time in taking an aim at the sharpshooting superstar.
Fans React to Damian Lillard’s Subpar 14-Point Performance
Considering the pressure on the Bucks to perform this year, the players will have their work cut out in the next two games. With Giannis putting up godly numbers, the rest of the team failed to seize the opportunity. The Bucks lack the grit they showcased in 2021, and fans responded to Lillard’s underwhelming return to the party.
The reactions kept coming on X as one fan wrote, “Damian Lillard will NEVER be a winner in this league.” The former Portland Trail Blazers guard has not won an NBA championship yet but came close in 2019 after helping Portland reach the Western Conference Finals.
Lillard’s Blazers succumbed to Steph Curry’s Golden State Warriors that year.
Another fan commented, “Lillard stinker and Bucks go down 0-2.” In the same thread, a user pointed out, “Man its almost like Jrue Holiday helps u win more than Damian Lillard, Lillard better scorer but it seems defense really does win titles. Amazing how Jrue a good defender helps u win better than a guy defends no one.”
Holiday, of course, played lockdown defense to bring home the championship for the Bucks in 2021. He was crucial during those finals, averaging 2.2 steals and 16.7 points (9.3 assists, too) in 2021.
The reactions came in thick and fast, with one user remarking, “Damian Lillard talking all that sh*t just to be completely useless. Tbh he’s been nothing but disappointing since leaving Portland.”
Lillard did, however, manage to win the NBA Cup this season, although their playoff record leaves a lot to be desired.
Lillard had a terrific season last year, averaging 31.3 points and making 5.0 three-pointers per game. Yet, the team lost to their rivals and current playoff opponents, the Indiana Pacers.
Appreciation for Andrew Nembhard Steals The Spotlight
One person who stopped Lillard from getting into his flow was Andrew Nembhard. The Pacers guard prevented him from scoring after he went berserk with 11 points in the first half.
Later, Nembhard rolled up his socks and forced Lillard to miss multiple shots. He made just one shot out of seven attempts to score three points in the second half. In the meantime, Nembhard scored 17 points to add insult to injury.
A fan mentioned with a meme, “NEMBHARD OUTPLAYING DAMIAN LILLARD LMAOOOOO.”
NEMBHARD OUTPLAYING DAMIAN LILLARD LMAOOOOO pic.twitter.com/jUVZ8QeR3t
— jp (@DownsCooked) April 23, 2025
At last, another fan compared the Luka Dončić trade to the Lakers, as Bucks GM John Horst faced the fans’ wrath for the Lillard trade.
The user posted, “People can talk about the Luka & AD trade was a bad one but since the championship, John Horst has managed to make the Bucks worse year after year & it started with trading a loyal Jrue Holiday for Damian Lillard who wanted to go to Miami at that time.”
Cutting corners on the Bucks roster, the decision to trade Holiday backfired as he claimed another NBA title with the Boston Celtics. Moreover, Lillard wanted the Trail Blazers to strike a deal with the Miami Heat back then, but it failed to materialize.
