If Lillard needs to be the star, the Bucks may have a problem

Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard. Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports

If Damian Lillard needs to be the star, the Bucks may have a problem

By Adam Taylor | Last updated 3/18/24

Damian Lillard had a stellar showing for the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday. He scored 31 points and had 16 assists as his team defeated the Phoenix Suns by a score of 140-129. However, his performance came in a game in which Giannis Antetokounmpo was absent from the rotation.

On Monday's episode of FanDuel TV's "Run It Back," NBA insider Shams Charania noted how Lillard is at his best when operating as a team's primary star.

"Yes, Giannis Antetokounmpo, I think everyone can say he's one of the best players in the league, probably the best player on this team. But, Damian Lillard, when the ball's in his hands, when he can be the closer, when he can be the lead ball handler, that's when this team thrives and is successful," Charania said.

"Damian Lillard, when the ball's in his hands, when he can be the closer, when he can be the lead ball handler, that's when this teams thrives and is successful."@ShamsCharania on Damian Lillard pic.twitter.com/yzPQZWRHtz
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) March 18, 2024

The hard part of putting two star talents together is that one of them will eventually need to accept they're now the secondary option.

For Milwaukee, that can't be Giannis. He's too important to the franchise. He's led them to a championship. He is a two-time MVP. If Lillard needs to be the primary weapon on offense, he may not be the right fit on a team with a clear-cut alpha already.

Sure, there will be times when Lillard needs to operate as a closer. His three-level scoring and passing ability make him a serious threat in clutch-time situations. However, Giannis is one of the most dominant forwards in the league. Milwaukee is at its best when they're playing through him.

If Milwaukee plans on competing for a championship, Doc Rivers must find a way to get his two best players to coexist on the court. And he must do it in a way that still heavily features Giannis down the stretch. Otherwise, the Giannis and Lillard partnership may not work out as planned.

Milwaukee knew the risk when it traded for Lillard in the summer. Now, they need to walk a very thin line. Otherwise, they might have to try and rebuild around their star forward on the fly, and there's no guarantee he would sign off on that.

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