After a short break and one massive trade, Damian Lillard returned to the NBA postseason this year.
Lillard had made the playoffs every year in the Western Conference between 2014 and 2021, missing out on the competition in just his rookie year on the Portland Trail Blazers. But his final two years in Portland, the Trail Blazers didn’t qualify for playoff action.
Now an All-Star on the Milwaukee Bucks, the point guard returned to form under the bright lights of the postseason. During his first game back, he was able to score 35 points and secure a victory over the Indiana Pacers.
"Last 2 years not being in the playoffs… It sucked. I went to Coachella. I ain't ever been able to go to Coachella." 😅
Dame is happy to be back in the playoffs 🙏 pic.twitter.com/pEW371NoAu
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 22, 2024
When asked what he missed about the playoffs, Lillard had the best response.
“The last two years, not being in the playoffs, it sucked. Early vacations. Last year, I went to Coachella. I ain’t never been able to go to Coachella. It’s playing in the playoffs every year. So just having that long summer, I was over that.”
Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is a well-known annual festival held in California during mid-April.
That usually coincides with the first round of the playoffs, when Lillard is typically busy putting on a show for basketball fans all around the world.
He was part of a pop-up event for Adidas in collaboration with festival headliner Bad Bunny.
While it is sad to picture the guard begrudgingly trying to enjoy himself at a music festival when he would rather be hooping, it is good to see him back in playoff action where he belongs.
