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Six months before Bucks waiving Damian Lillard, Giannis Antetokounmpo dropped ‘just the beginning’ verdict on the duo

Originally posted on NBA Analysis Network
By Aikansh Chaudhary | Last updated Jul 2, 2025 5:30 PM ET

Just two seasons after getting traded to the Milwaukee Bucks, Damian Lillard will play for a new team for the 2025-26 NBA season.

Following a disappointing end to the 2025 NBA Playoffs, the futures of Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo were questioned.

While Antetokounmpo still remains a member of the organization, the same cannot be said for Dame as the Bucks waived him to sign Myles Turner on a four-year, $107 million deal.

Even Giannis didn’t see the move coming, which is evident from taking a look back at the Greek Freak’s plans with Lillard just six months before the news.

Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images

Giannis Antetokounmpo dropped ‘just the beginning’ verdict after winning 2025 NBA Cup

The Bucks were off to an awful start in the 2024-25 NBA season. However, over the course of the season, the franchise stabilized, ultimately finishing as the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference.

Speaking of their journey, winning the 2025 NBA Cup was undoubtedly the highlight of the season for the Bucks.

So much so that Giannis dropped a massive prediction about his partnership with Lillard after lifting the NBA Cup trophy.

“I’m so happy for Dame. We got our first trophy together and this is just the beginning. We’ve got to keep improving, keep getting better. We’ll be better,” Antetokounmpo said in December, 2024.

While Giannis looked locked in and ready to enjoy more success with Lillard, the Bucks had a different plan. After all, just a little over six months later, the Bucks have separated the dynamic duo of Giannis and Lillard.

Giannis shares his thoughts on the Bucks’ NBA Cup win:

“It’s the best feeling ever… just winning.

“I’m happy for Dame and this being our first trophy together.” pic.twitter.com/PQvrq3cah3
— Brett Siegel (@BrettSiegelNBA) December 18, 2024

What’s next for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard?

It’s safe to say aside from winning the NBA Cup, the Bucks’ Antetokounmpo-Lillard experiment failed as the duo enjoyed no success come playoff time.

For Lillard, who became an unrestricted free agent, the first step is to get healthy as he tore his Achilles tendon during the 2025 postseason.

Following that, he has a plethora of options to pick from as the next destination in his NBA career. Patrick Beverley has suggested Dame could join the Golden State Warriors, while the LA Lakers and Boston Celtics have also expressed interest in the 9x NBA All-Star.

On the other hand, Antetokounmpo is still recovering from losing Lillard. But the Bucks will need Antetokounmpo to step up as a passer next season.

After all, the team has lost its primary point guard, who was producing a little over 7.0 assists per game. Another option for Giannis would be to set a timeline to re-evaluate his future in Milwaukee.

Either way, the next couple of weeks will be extremely crucial for the former teammates, Giannis and Dame.

This article first appeared on NBA Analysis Network and was syndicated with permission.

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