Like everyone else, Lillard was surprised that he was cut.

ESPN reporter Shams Charania reported that the Bucks cut Damian Lillard.

Lillard suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon in the playoffs and was basically reimbursed for the new season. Lillard has two years left in contract with $113 million, and the Bucks will pay his remaining salary in installments for five years.

NBA reporter Chris Haynes revealed on the show: "He (Lillard) was surprised and the Bucks didn't tell him in advance. I was told that Lillard, like everyone else, just knew about this."

Lillard still performed well in the 2024-25 season, averaging 24.9 points and 7.1 assists per game. At the same time, his real hit rate is as high as 62%. The Bucks bet on Lillard in 2023, but took the initiative to admit defeat in just two seasons, announcing the failure of the Antetokounmpo + Lillard combination.