Damian Lillard’s Second Straight 3-Point Contest Win Came Without Preparation
Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard clinched his second consecutive 3-point contest victory on Saturday, notching 26 points during the competition.
In a post-win news conference, Lillard candidly confessed to not preparing for his achievement at all.
“I didn’t prepare at all. I think that’s the key to it,” Lillard divulged. “…The first two times I did it, I was practicing, I had racks, I was doing all this stuff, and I went out there, and I didn’t win. Last year, I went in there, I never practiced, I never shot off a rack, I didn’t do nothing. I just showed up and won. So, this year, I was telling them, ‘you’re just trying too hard. You’re doing all this practicing; you’re talking about it a lot. Just show up and just shoot. I think that’s what’s going to be best…I didn’t practice at all.”
Lillard’s triumph comes as a welcome relief amidst a challenging start to his tenure with the Milwaukee Bucks. After leaving the Portland Trail Blazers in pursuit of a championship, Lillard found himself in a Bucks team grappling with its own set of issues. The mid-season firing of head coach Adrian Griffin and Doc Rivers’ ongoing quest for a winning strategy are just some of the challenges facing the team.
Part of Milwaukee’s struggles are attributed to Lillard’s defensive limitations. The team is seeking to maximize his offensive prowess while minimizing his defensive liabilities, particularly in conjunction with fellow star Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Despite his recent 3-point contest success, Lillard’s performance from the perimeter this season has been subpar, with a shooting percentage of 34.1 from deep. Bucks fans, however, can take solace in his contest win as evidence of his elite scoring capabilities from outside.
As the All-Star break offers a brief respite from the Bucks’ woes, Lillard and Giannis will soon have to refocus on steering the team back to its winning ways. While Lillard’s 3-point contest victory is commendable, he undoubtedly aims for more significant accomplishments on the court.