Damian Lillard, DeMar DeRozan link up ahead of Kings-Bucks game

There is almost nothing better for professional athletes than to gain the respect of their peers. Mutual respect between Milwaukee Bucks star Damian Lillard and Sacramento Kings star DeMar DeRozan was ever present even though they were set to line up with opposing teams for their Tuesday night clash, a game that Bucks won easily, 130-115.

During the pregame scrimmage, Lillard and DeRozan made sure to hug each other, exchanging smiles as they joked before parting ways. The Bucks and Kings stars have clearly cultivated a nice relationship after battling each other for the past dozen years, and it’s definitely heartwarming to see two of the most respected names in sports they give each other the credit they deserve.

One of the most notable interactions between Lillard and DeRozan in the past was when the former expressed support for the latter after the Toronto Raptors infamously pulled the rug out from under DeRozan, trading him in the deal that brought them Kawhi Leonard.

Lillard has long been a bastion of loyalty, sticking with the Portland Trail Blazers for many years, even as they fell from a perennial playoff team to an also-ran. However, Lillard wanted a chance to join a struggling team, which the Blazers didn’t after embarking on a rebuild over the past few seasons, which is how he explained his trade request that led to his arrival with the Bucks.

Regardless, both Lillard and DeRozan are now the uncles on the block that most NBA players can look up to in terms of how to be a pro. Staying in the NBA for over a decade and playing at a high level takes a lot of determination, and both epitomize what it means to be dedicated to your craft.

Damian Lillard, the Bucks completely dominate the Kings

DeMar DeRozan and the Kings may be playing much better basketball lately, but they couldn’t keep the momentum going Tuesday night as they fell to the Bucks 130-115. The game wasn’t as close as the final score line would suggest, as the Bucks ran away with a 21-point lead after the first quarter and never looked back.

Damian Lillard had 24 points to back up Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 33-point, 11-rebound, 13-assist night as the Bucks return to winning ways.