Damian Lillard on how he felt about his much-ballyhooed homecoming

Damian Lillard and the Milwaukee Bucks hogged the spotlight on Wednesday as the seven-time All-Star returned to the place he called home for 11 seasons. Like a kingdom welcoming back its proud warrior, the former Portland Trail Blazers star was greeted with cheers and standing ovations from the fans at the Moda Center.

But amidst all the hype and emotions of his much-anticipated homecoming, Lillard couldn't help but feel a bit drained. The relentless media coverage and attention surrounding his return took its toll on the usually calm guard.

Media frenzy

The hype train was in full force leading up to Lillard's return to Portland. The media frenzy started when the schedule was released, with analysts and talking heads quickly dubbing it one of the season's most highly-anticipated games.

As the game drew closer, the attention on Dame only intensified. Every aspect of his homecoming was analyzed, from his relationship with his former teammates to how he would perform in front of a familiar crowd. The athletic sportswear giant Adidas even named a basketball court after him in a grand ceremony the day before their game.

As appreciative as Lillard was of all the hoopla surrounding his return, he felt he was being pulled in all directions.

"More than anything, it was just kind of draining, you know what I mean?" Dame said.