Jim Jackson said Giannis Antetokounmpo may have quietly influenced Damian Lillard’s exit from the Bucks by staying silent when the front office sought his input.
Damian Lillard is a nine-time NBA All-Star and one of the league’s most respected point guards.
He spent over a decade with the Portland Trail Blazers before being traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in 2023.
Recently, he was waived by the Bucks following a torn Achilles injury during the 2025 playoffs.
The team used the NBA’s waive and stretch rule to spread his $113 million contract over five years, allowing them to sign center Myles Turner in free agency.
On the other hand, Damian Lillard responded to his surprising exit from the Milwaukee Bucks. On social media, he posted:
If they call it a ‘gamble’ at this stage… tell em this the jackpot. #ToBeContinued
If they call it a “gamble” at this stage… tell em this the jackpot. #ToBeContinued
— Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) July 4, 2025
Despite the sudden move, Lillard expressed no regrets about his time in Milwaukee and is reportedly excited about becoming a free agent two years early.
Now, several top teams, including the Boston Celtics, Golden State Warriors, and Los Angeles Lakers, are showing interest in signing him.
The Warriors, Celtics and Lakers are among the teams that have interest in doing a deal with Damian Lillard sooner rather than later, sources tell @eric_nehm, @sam_amick and @joevardon.
— The Athletic NBA (@TheAthleticNBA) July 2, 2025
Lillard received calls from several contending teams quickly after the news of his Bucks’… pic.twitter.com/YuonUE0mEF
Although a viral post claimed he had signed with the Celtics, that report was false; Lillard hasn’t made a decision yet.
With his recovery expected to take most of the 2025–26 season, fans and analysts are watching closely to see where he’ll land next.
Jim Jackson Shared A Thought-Provoking Take On Damian Lillard’s Exit!
Jim Jackson, former NBA player and current analyst, shared a pointed view on Damian Lillard’s exit from the Milwaukee Bucks.
Speaking on Podcast P with Paul George, Jackson suggested that Giannis Antetokounmpo may have quietly influenced the decision.
He didn’t claim Giannis directly orchestrated the move, but he strongly implied that Giannis’s silence may have played a key role.
When the front office considers waiving a major player and the franchise star doesn’t object, Jackson noted, that silence can be taken as tacit approval.
He stated, “A non-answer is as bad as an answer,” implying Giannis’s lack of opposition might have given the team confidence to proceed with waiving Lillard.
Jackson questioned whether Giannis truly advocated for Lillard to stay or let the front office do what it wanted. He further added:
You can’t play that in-between… Loyalty? There ain’t never been no loyalty in the league. So, stop it. Never has been, never will be.
While earlier reports claimed Giannis was unaware, later updates suggested he may have known and even welcomed the move.
Moreover, Bucks fans expressed mixed emotions; some praised the team’s boldness, while others felt Lillard was “done dirty” and that the farewell post was hollow given the circumstances.
Despite all these speculations, Giannis Antetokounmpo has stayed publicly silent.
While sources conflict on whether he knew or supported the move, Giannis himself hasn’t issued any statement.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Damian Lillard was drafted 6th overall by the Portland Trail Blazers in 2012 and won Rookie of the Year in 2013.
- He is a 9-time NBA All-Star and earned MVP honors at the 2024 All-Star Game.
- He was married to Kay’la Hanson in 2021, but they divorced in 2023.
