Getty Image / Stacy Revere
For nearly a decade, Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers were mainstays in the NBA Playoffs. But, they had missed the playoffs the last two seasons before Lillard was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks last season.
After Lillard absolutely lit up the Indiana Pacers in an Eastern Conference Playoffs First Round win on Sunday, he let us know what he did these last few years when he wasn’t in the playoffs, and that this is much better.
The annual California music festival, Coachella, is wrapping up the second of its annual two weekends in the Palm Springs area. It is probably America’s most-known music festival and is known for having some of the best lineups of any music festival in the world. This year’s headliners included Lana Del Ray, Tyler The Creator, Doja Cat, and a reunion of the band No Doubt. It’s a cultural institution for people who love to tell other people on Instagram how much fun they’re having at Coachella.
When Damian Lillard was making the playoffs eight seasons in a row from 2013-2014 to 2020-2021, he couldn’t get to Coachella. But, last year, he got the chance to go. However, he likes playoff basketball a heck of a lot more.
Damian Lillard on missing the playoffs the last few years:
"Not being in the playoffs, it sucked…Last year, I went to Coachella. I ain't ever been able to go to Coachella."
— Eric Nehm (@eric_nehm) April 22, 2024
On Sunday, he had 35 points, all in the first half, as the Giannis Anteokounmpo-less Bucks beat the Pacers, 109-94 in game 1. The 33-year-old Lillard is going to need a lot more of those types of games if the Bucks are going to survive until Giannis can return.