PHOTO: Damian Lillard looks shredded amid offseason preps for 2nd season with Bucks
Last offseason, the Milwaukee Bucks made a big splash by trading for Damian Lillard. After an unsuccessful first season with the franchise, the All-Star guard looks poised to turn things around in year two.
The summer is a chance for players to rest and recuperate after a long and grueling season. However, Lillard appears to be kicking things into high gear ahead of the 2025 campaign.
On 4th of July, Damian Lillard posted a photo of himself on his Instagram story. Before getting in on some fun, he was putting in work at the gym. What stood out most from Lillard's photo is that he appears to have added some muscle during his offseason training.
When the Bucks traded for Lillard, many expected him to form the league's new dominant duo alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo. Milwaukee got off to a strong start but ended up shocking the basketball world when they went through a coaching change.
Upon hiring Doc Rivers midway through the year, the Bucks were a .500 team to close out the regular season. Things abruptly came to an end for them in the first round of the playoffs when they were upset by the Indiana Pacers.
Lillard played in 73 games for the Bucks in his first season in Milwaukee. He ended the regular season with averages of 24.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 7.0 assists.
Milwaukee Bucks have made minimal upgrades around Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo
With a pair of stars like Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo on the roster, the Milwaukee Bucks should be an aggressive team in search of upgrades. However, that has not been the case.
In the early stages of the offseason, the Bucks have only made one move. They brought in veteran forward Taurean Prince to help fill out the supporting cast. Aside from this, Milwaukee looks like it could be running it back with most of last year's roster.
Not far removed from winning a championship, the Bucks still have the talent to contend in the Eastern Conference. That said, Damian Lillard and Giannis are only going to get them so far. Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez are both again, and might not be enough to compete in a conference that's getting better.
This summer, multiple teams in the East have gotten better. The Philadelphia 76ers made a big splash by signing Paul George, and the New York Knicks went out and traded for Mikal Bridges. As the teams around them continue to improve, the Bucks have done nothing to try and close the gap.
A rejuvenated Lillard and Giannis might be able to turn things around for Milwaukee, but it will be an uphill battle moving forward with improved competition.