Milwaukee Bucks All-Star Damian Lillard shares key lessons he and others can learn from Devin Booker at the 2024 Olympics

The Milwaukee Bucks, like many of the NBA’s elite teams, are fortunate to have several All-Star and superstar players on their roster. The Boston Celtics, the reigning NBA champions, boast star players like Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Jrue Holiday. The Philadelphia 76ers recently signed Paul George to pair him with Joel Embiid.

In the Western Conference, the Phoenix Suns, coached by former Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer, boast Devin Booker and Kevin Durant. The Los Angeles Lakers, coached by former Bucks guard JJ Reddick, have LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

If anything has become clear over the past few seasons, it’s that NBA teams serious about contending for a championship need more than one elite player. When the Bucks won in 2021, they had Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton. Although Middleton didn’t make the All-Star team that season, he had been named an All-Star the two years prior and made the cut again the following season.

The Milwaukee Bucks need to find a balance between Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo

Milwaukee Bucks, Damian Lillard, Giannis Antetokounmpo — March 24, 2024; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) and defenseman Damian Lillard (0) during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Photo Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Last offseason, the Bucks traded Holiday and Grayson Allen to acquire Damian Lillard, who, like Giannis, is a member of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team. Before the trade, Giannis and Lillard had named each other as the superstar they would most like to work with, believing that their games complement each other perfectly and would make their team very difficult to beat.

However, this conclusion was based on the assumption that they would have enough time to prepare and get to know each other’s inclinations. Since the transfer took place so close to the start of training camp, the two superstars did not have the opportunity to do so.

The result of such a short preparation time together for the 2023-24 NBA season was that the two stars often didn’t know how to best play against each other. While there were numerous reasons why the Bucks were unable to dominate the regular season and ultimately failed in the NBA playoffs, Giannis and Lillard’s inability to build good chemistry in the offseason certainly hurt the on-court product.

One of the things the two struggled with was figuring out what their own role was on the team. While they never disagreed, it was clear that neither really knew how to best play with the other. Neither wanted to overshadow the other, and both claimed the other was the best option on offense.

Damian Lillard, point guard of the Milwaukee Bucks, reveals what he learned from Devin Booker at the Olympics

In 2021, Lillard was a key player on the U.S. men’s basketball team that won the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, but he did not play this year to stay healthy and rested for the upcoming season.

But he watched the games and learned an important lesson: He watched Suns star Devin Booker settle into a supporting role on this year’s gold medal-winning team.

Damian Lillard to @RSaenzFox10 about why he might use the Suns’ Devin Booker’s humility, who is a superstar, but also his willingness to play a supporting role for Team USA, as a teaching tool at Lillard’s Formula Zero Elite Camp. pic.twitter.com/4LOLSH7PxH

— DANA (@iam_DanaScott) 16 August 2024

“I think when you look at a player who is a superstar in the NBA and is humble enough and has a winning mentality, you know he’s a star among stars. Not everyone can be a star. Not everyone can have the ball. Not everyone can score points, you have to be willing to play a role and contribute to the bottom line.

“And when I saw the game, I think it was extremely obvious that he approached it with that mindset.”

Lillard uses Booker’s example to teach young players at the camp he is currently running, but will also take that lesson into the upcoming season.

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