'Are you happy?': Damian Lillard says he's at peace with his departure from Portland and arrival to Milwaukee
Damian Lillard has been saying goodbye to Portland, where he spent 11 years, and hello to Milwaukee.
The all-NBA point guard was traded Wednesday to the Bucks in a three-team deal that sent Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers.
In addition to a farewell post to Blazers fan, Lillard wrote, "(I'm) excited for my next chapter," on X, formerly known as Twitter. Milwaukee is set to celebrate his arrival Saturday afternoon with a rally in Deer District.
Lillard, who often spoke about building something great in Portland, ended up leaving the organization on bad terms, and when asked by former all-star Gilbert Arenas if he is happy with where he is at in his career, he seems to be at peace with it.
"Are you happy?" Arenas wrote in a text. Lillard replied, "I am."
Arenas read the exchange Friday on his podcast "No Chill with Gilbert Arenas," which is co-hosted by Josiah Johnson, the son of former Bucks great Marques Johnson.
"I think it will finally come to light that I’m one of those guys at the very top," Lillard wrote. "They have discredited me for years without acknowledgment, how I was never on even close to even playing field with everybody else."
Lillard, who just turned 33, is a seven-time all-NBA player and all-star and was named to the league’s 75th anniversary team with Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Lillard is expected to chat with Milwaukee media in the coming days. He also is a frequent X user, weighing in on culture, sports and entertainment.
He is noted rapper, under the moniker Dame D.O.L.L.A. He released a track on Wednesday properly entitled "Farewell" to his loyal Portland fans. In his goodbye track to Portland, he also took a swipe or two at his former organization.
"I can never be replaced they’ll know sooner than later," Dame rapped. "An arrow pointed at who assumed it was greater. Amazing what I get in return for this labor. I continue leaving trails but won’t be for the Blazers.
"To the fans, man, I love you, it’s unconditional. Reasons for me leaving the city is nothing typical. So it’s imperative not to believe the narrative, just know that what I left is better than what I inherited.
"I leave at peace because I know in the end that this is business. Hope you remember all the things you got to sit and witness. In the future, man, I hope we meet with hugs and kisses. But you should know that they the ones that chose another mission."
Portland fans watched Dame grow, and now Bucks fans are hopeful they can watch him shine on the biggest stage in basketball, the NBA Finals.
Bleacher Report's Chris Haynes, who interviewed Lillard and Antetokounmpo, said Lillard requested a trade to the Miami Heat before teaming up with Antetokounmpo.
Lillard expressed his disappointment with how the Miami trade fell through. Lillard said there was poor communication from the Blazers. He didn't want to be traded somewhere against his wishes.
Milwaukee was a good fit for him because of Antetokounmpo and his chances to win a ring. Haynes said the two had in recent years floated the idea of teaming up but both stars wanted the other to come to their team. Antetokounmpo often talks about his desire to remain a threat to win the championship every year.
According to Haynes, one of the first text messages Antetokounmpo sent to Lillard read, "Let's get this f------ championship."
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Damian Lillard says he's at peace with his departure from Portland
