Bucks’ Bobby Portis Surprised to Hear About Damian Lillard’s Loneliness in Milwaukee…

One significant topic during the Milwaukee Bucks’ disappointing playoff exit was Damian Lillard’s reported loneliness. Many fans had anticipated Lillard moving to Miami, but he ended up joining Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee. While playing alongside one of the world’s best players is appealing, it required Lillard to relocate to the Midwest, a move that apparently left him feeling lonely. This sentiment was unknown to Bobby Portis until their playoff run ended.

**Bobby Portis’ Reaction**

Adjusting to a new setting can be challenging. Lillard, having spent his entire career with the Portland Trail Blazers, had deep ties with the community there.

When news of his loneliness in Milwaukee emerged, it was met with significant fan and media reaction. Despite this, the situation seemed to improve, possibly through more victories with Antetokounmpo or other factors.

The story eventually faded from the media, but some members of Doc Rivers’ team were unaware it even happened. On the “Run It Back Show,” Portis expressed his disbelief.

“He said he was lonely in Milwaukee? I guess I don’t know, man. I’m not going to say he was lonely. He said he was lonely. No, he didn’t, bro,” said a puzzled Portis.

Lou Williams and Chandler Parsons had to clarify the situation for Portis, with Parsons joking that Lillard was upset about not being invited to teammates’ kids’ birthday parties.

Portis ultimately accepted the reality and empathized with Lillard. He referenced Shams Charania while acknowledging the harsh Midwest climate.

“It probably was too cold out there at first. You know how it is in the Midwest, man. Shams has been living in the Midwest his whole life. He’s a Chicago guy. You know how it is, that Lake Michigan, man. It might bring you to tears walking outside,” Portis remarked.

**Damian Lillard’s Struggles with Loneliness**

During the first round of the 2024 NBA playoffs against the Indiana Pacers, Lillard’s sacrifices for joining Antetokounmpo were evident. Initially, he missed his family, which later expanded to not finding entertainment after games and practices.

“It’s definitely lonely because I’m such a family guy. My life is my family. After games, I would come out, and my whole family would be back there. My kids are coming out of the playroom. My mom, my brother, my cousins lived there. My best friends live in Portland,” Lillard shared.

To cope, Lillard turned to activities like watching boxing.

“Bro, go to practice, go home, watch boxing, play video games. Man, I type in FightHype on YouTube 100 times and am praying for something new to be on there. Seriously, I don’t have much of a life. But that’s what comes with making a big-boy decision. You got to be down for that and figure it out,” he explained.

**Resolution in Milwaukee**

Whether Lillard’s feelings of loneliness have been completely resolved in Milwaukee remains unclear.