The news that Damian Lillard had been moved to the Milwaukee Bucks, where he will team up with Giannis Antetokounmpo, stunned basketball fans all around the world. When the Lillard trade was announced, Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. gave his live reaction on camera while an interview was still going on.
Porter said, “That’s good… we will see them in the Finals,” after getting all the deal specifics. MPJ immediately said, “Oh, no he didn’t… Dame and Giannis is unreal bro,” which perfectly captured his surprise and admiration for both players. It is evidence of the seriousness of the action and how it might potentially change the balance of power in the NBA.
“If he goes to Milwaukee they’re a problem.”
Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr.’s reaction to Damian Lillard getting traded to the Bucks during an interview 😂
(via basketballcoverage/TT)pic.twitter.com/FLcfht94AM
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) September 29, 2023
Thus, it is clear that the Nuggets are looking forward to making a return trip to the NBA Finals. And with the Celtics and Bucks in the mix, Denver may face tougher competition there than in the West. Surprisingly, MPJ was a little interested in learning where DeAndre Ayton landed. Can the Denver Nuggets win back-to-back championships?
Of course, there are still many issues to resolve before we get there, but the Lillard purchase has at the very least warned the other NBA teams.
Can the Denver Nuggets win back-to-back championships?
Nikola Jokic might not be able to persuade everyone that he is the greatest in the league since Giannis is still breathing. He’s the ideal leader for this Denver club, that much is certain. Milwaukee had their defense honed to be among the best last year, yet they still unexpectedly lost in the playoffs.
This surprising result sparked major changes, including the bold hiring of Damian Lillard and the appointment of Adrian Griffin as head coach. Porter, who recently contributed to his team winning the championship, has every reason to be confident in them. Before most people choose someone else to win it all, the Nuggets must be defeated. But the Bucks now appear to be in a position to defeat anyone with Lillard’s acquisition.
After tearing his ACL in 2021, Jamal Murray still gets anxiety attacks, while Michael Porter Jr. has spent most of his five NBA seasons with back issues. Recall that Porter only participated in nine games last year, while Murray missed every single one. They’ll work hard all summer to return even better than what we witnessed in 2022–23, now that they’re mostly healthy again.
Denver needs to take notice and get ready if Milwaukee is the stop on the way to their NBA title. The Nuggets need to be aware of the Bucks’ genuine danger.