On Thursday night, the new-look Milwaukee Bucks made their debut with superstars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard taking the floor as teammates in a game that means something for the first time.
The Bucks took on the James Harden-less Philadelphia 76ers in the team’s home opener in what turned out to be a thriller in which Lillard showed the team and its fanbase why they brought him in to play alongside Antetokounmpo.
Lillard finished with a game-high 39 points to go along with eight rebounds and four assists, as well as one of his patented dagger three-pointers to seal the deal against Joel Embiid and company.
Joy Taylor of FOX Sports compared Lillard’s performance to that of a superhero due to his late-game heroics that he’s become famous for, via “Speak” on FS1.
.@JoyTaylorTalks: The Bucks put the league on notice. pic.twitter.com/pPBYMy0h0x
— Speak (@SpeakOnFS1) October 27, 2023
As for Antetokounmpo, the two-time NBA MVP had a bit of a pedestrian performance compared to what we’re used to seeing from the superstar, as he finished with 23 points, 13 rebounds, three assists, two steals, two blocks, and seven turnovers.
This game was the perfect example of why the Bucks need Lillard moving forward, as he provides that star power that can help lead the team if Antetokounmpo isn’t himself.
It’ll be interesting to see if Lillard can continue to produce at a high level while sharing the floor with another superstar and if the Bucks genuinely are the real deal moving forward because all eyes will be on this team after this performance, as everyone will be anxious to find out if there’s a new superstar dynamic duo in Milwaukee.
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