Bucks honor Dame-Giannis historic duo run
Bucks Highlight Giannis-Lillard History After Trade originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Some duos light up the court. Others leave a mark that stats can’t even explain. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard gave Milwaukee Bucks a run that fans will never forget, even if the ending felt like a gut punch.
The Bucks officially turned the page this week after waiving Damian Lillard to clear cap space for their surprise free agency splash, a four-year, $108.9 million deal with Myles Turner. Just like that, the Dame-Giannis chapter ended. But before fully moving on, Milwaukee made sure the world remembered what these two built in just two seasons.
Lillard and Antetokounmpo didn’t just click, they made history. According to the BucksRealm, no duo since the NBA-ABA merger in 1976 has averaged more points per game while playing at least 100 games together. They led the league in combined scoring both years and became the first pair ever to each average 24+ points, 4+ rebounds, and 6+ assists in back-to-back seasons.
Since the NBA merger in 1976, Damian Lillard & Giannis Antetokounmpo have the most PPG of any duo that has ever played (min 100 GP).
— BucksRealm (@BucksRealm) July 18, 2025
That, is what I will remember. https://t.co/6TkEZKIZH3pic.twitter.com/mt8VcvkWGg
They weren’t just volume scorers. They broke the record for the most games with each player recording 25+ points and 10+ assists. No Kobe and Shaq. No Jordan and Pippen. Just Dame and Giannis.
Yet injuries, shaky coaching, and roster gaps hurt their playoff dreams. They barely shared the floor in the postseason. Less than 30 minutes total. And when it mattered most, Lillard pushed through injury, only to get hurt even worse.
Now, Dame heads back to Portland after signing a three-year, $42 million deal. Giannis showed his love by liking Lillard’s Instagram post announcing the return. No drama. Just respect. And in those 131 games together, they gave Milwaukee a duo unlike anything the NBA had seen.
Related: Damian Lillard’s Portland Return Leaves Heat in the Dust
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: Basketball
