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Milwaukee Bucks star Damian Lillard will miss Saturday’s road game against Dejounte Murray and the Atlanta Hawks due to personal reasons, per The Athletic’s Eric Nehm.
Lillard was traded to the Bucks during the offseason after requesting a trade from the Portland Trail Blazers.
The Blazers shut down Lillard for the remainder of the 2022-23 season with a nagging calf injury on March 28. With the team out of the playoff picture at that point, shutting him down was the best option.
In addition to the calf ailment, Lillard also missed time during the 2022-23 campaign with ankle and wrist ailments.
Despite missing time, the 33-year-old still had another solid impressive individual season, averaging 32.2 points 4.8 rebounds and 7.3 assists in 58 games while shooting 46.3 percent from the floor and 37.1 percent from deep.
Now in Milwaukee, Lillard hasn’t missed much time in 2023-24.
The veteran is thriving alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo following a rough start to the year after the two struggled to develop a connection. In 68 games he’s averaging 24.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 7.1 assists while shooting 42.6 percent from the floor and 35.8 percent from deep.
The Bucks sit second in the Eastern Conference with a 46-27 record.