© Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Damian Lillard is thrilled to play a Christmas Day game again: "It's prime time"
The last time Damian Lillard played in the NBA's Christmas Day game was five years ago when he was still the centerpiece of the Portland Trail Blazers.
Apparently, 2018 was the first time for the Milwaukee Bucks that they managed to hoop at the holidays after 39 long years of wait - that season eventually kickstarted the ongoing streak of Christmas Day games for the ball club.
Milwaukee is about to approach its sixth straight Christmas Day game this year, playing the New York Knicks in the Madison Square Garden. For Dame finally set to be back and play again on the special occasion, he couldn't feel more blessed for the opportunity.
Prime time is Dame Time
Slated to play in the second Christmas Day game of his career, Lillard is amped up to feel the holiday basketball energy once again.
For him, regardless of whoever the teams are playing and their win-loss record, the chance of playing in Christmas in front of countless fans is an absolute honor that must be enjoyed.
"I think just growing up and watching the Christmas games, it's a special day. It's a special opportunity to be able to do that," he said. "I wish they still did the Christmas uniforms and had a whole thing around Christmas, but just being able to do it, I'm sure everybody loves the fact that they can play on Christmas.
"You know, it's a prime-time game, even if it's a team with a bad record or a team that's not considered a high-level team. Those games still have the energy of a real game."
Ready to put on a show in MSG
In 2018, Lillard found himself playing at the finale of the NBA's's Christmas Day slate against the Utah Jazz. On Monday he'll be at the opener with the Bucks as they face the Knicks in a matinee at MSG.
As such, he is laser-focused on pouring it out and giving every Bucks fan a priceless holiday hoops treat via a sweet road victory.
"It's been a while; I thin it's's been like [five] years since I last played on Christmas, and it was the last game of the night. It was in Utah,” he said.
"I think this is the real Christmas experience. A prime time in Madison Square Garden. I'm looking forward to it."
