Damian Lillard (Image Credit: X @ErickSavage13)

Damian Lillard has finally added a trophy to his collection. The Milwaukee Bucks point guard secured the NBA Cup during his first season with the team, marking a significant achievement after an 11-year run with the Portland Trail Blazers that fell short of major accolades.

Following the win, Lillard made headlines with his generous decision to use part of his NBA Cup prize money to support the Bucks’ team staff. This gesture comes at a pivotal moment for the Bucks, who faced significant challenges early in the season. Both Lillard and the coaching staff have been instrumental in turning things around, earning widespread praise for their efforts.

“When I get it, I ain’t gonna just blow it or go crazy… (I’ll give it) to the support staff, our training staff… do something to support them,” Lillard shared when asked about his plans for the $500k prize money.

The Bucks’ road to their NBA Cup victory was remarkable, though expectations for their overall performance in the league remain tempered. Based on their current play, winning the Larry O’Brien Trophy this season seems unlikely. However, for many Bucks players, including Giannis Antetokounmpo, Brook Lopez, Khris Middleton, and Bobby Portis, who won the NBA championship in 2021, missing out on the Cup isn’t a major concern.

Damian Lillard Reflects on the Bucks’ NBA Cup Final Run

After a tough start to the season with a 4-8 record, the Bucks faced scrutiny and doubts about their potential. Lillard credited their turnaround to a collective effort to improve both as individuals and as a team. This progress became particularly evident during their decisive victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder, where teamwork and trust took center stage.

Lillard emphasized that the championship win highlighted the strides they’ve made toward becoming a more cohesive unit. With Giannis Antetokounmpo delivering a stellar triple-double performance, Lillard views this victory as just the beginning of a promising partnership with “The Greek Freak.”

“I think it just showed what we’ve been building. It all came together in our biggest game so far, from the film room to practice, to us becoming a more connected team. The trust we’ve built on both sides of the ball really shined in an important moment for us,” said the eight-time NBA All-Star.

For Lillard’s fans, it’s heartening to see him win a trophy, even if it’s not the one he ultimately desires. While hopes remain high for a championship run in June, this tournament win offers him a chance to celebrate an accomplishment and sets the stage for bigger goals ahead.

Report: Warriors’ value tops in NBA; Knicks, Lakers next

The NBA, where a big three combination of players often proves successful on the court, has a big three in terms of franchise value, too.

The Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers are the league’s most valuable franchises by a wide margin, Sportico announced in its annual assessment Wednesday.

The Warriors are worth $9.14 billion, the Knicks $8.3 billion and the Lakers $8.07 billion, according to the report. Golden State is considered the second-most valuable franchise in U.S. sports, trailing only the Dallas Cowboys ($10.3 billion).

The assessments include ownership’s real estate as well as team-related businesses such as WNBA franchises.

The average NBA team is worth $4.6 billion, a 15% rise over last year and nearly twice the worth from four years ago.

The Warriors, who have an affiliated WNBA expansion team set to start next year, saw their value go up 10% from 2023. The Knicks had a 12% rise, and the Lakers had a 10% rise.

The Brooklyn Nets are fourth on the list with a $5.7 billion value, a rise of 43% from the club’s 13th-place ranking last year. Billboard cited the Nets’ Barclays Center venue as the world’s highest-grossing arena as of April.

Rounding out the top 10 are the LA Clippers ($5.68 billion), the for-sale Boston Celtics ($5.66 billion), the Chicago Bulls ($5.56 billion), the Miami Heat ($5 billion), the Houston Rockets ($4.77 billion) and the Toronto Raptors ($4.66 billion).

Among the top 10 franchises, only the Lakers and Celtics don’t control their venues.

The bottom three on the list are the Minnesota Timberwolves ($3.29 billion), the New Orleans Pelicans ($3.09 billion) and the Memphis Grizzlies ($3.06 billion).

According to Sportico, NBA teams have a higher value-to-revenue ratio than those of any other major U.S. sports league. On that list, MLS is second, followed in order by the NFL, the NHL, the WNBA, the NWSL and MLB.