Damian Lillard Finally Traded… to the Bucks With Giannis!
Dame is on the move! After years of speculation about whether they’d ever do it, the Blazers finally did it. In a blockbuster move Wednesday afternoon, the Portland Trailblazers traded superstar PG Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks.
This move teams up Damian Lillard with the ‘Greek Freak’ Giannis Antetokounmpo. That’s insanity. And it has Bucks fans hoping it’ll bring them another championship.
Having one of the best guards in the league teamed up with Giannis is just crazy. Oh, the Suns were involved in this trade too. But that barely registered a blip.
Here’s some of my favorite Dame photos:
PORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 17: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers passes the ball during the second quarter against the Boston Celtics at the Moda Center on March 17, 2023 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OREGON - FEBRUARY 09: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers gathers with his teammates after defeating the Los Angeles Lakers 107-105 at Moda Center on February 09, 2022 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ - MARCH 12: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers and Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns reach for a loose ball during the second half of the NBA game at Talking Stick Resort Arena on March 12, 2017 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Trailblazers defeated the Suns 110-101. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 27: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers scores on a dunk in a 108-98 win over the Los Angeles Clippers during Game Five of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2016 NBA Playoffs on April 27, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and condition of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OREGON - DECEMBER 17: Damian Lillard # 0 of the Portland Trail Blazers dribbles the ball while defended by Cody Martin # 11 of the Charlotte Hornets during the first half at Moda Center on December 17, 2021 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)
4 Ways Deion Sanders Is Inspiring Everyone Right Now
“Neon Deion,” “Prime Time,” and now, “Coach Prime.” Regardless of what nickname you have known Deion Sanders by, it is hard to ignore how much this football legend is inspiring the sports world right now.
The head coach of the University of Colorado Buffalos has not only taken the college football world by storm, but he also seems to be everywhere in American culture. Sure, there are the creative Aflac and California Almonds commercials, but what Sanders is doing within his team’s locker room is the real story. Before we dive into Sanders’ impact, let’s take a moment to remind ourselves of Sanders before he was “Coach Prime.”
From #2 to #21
Born in Fort Myers, Florida, in 1967, Sanders was a star defensive back for Florida State University from 1985 to 1988, where he arguably made the #2 jersey cool in football. He was also an outstanding baseball player, drafted by the Kansas City Royals and, later, the New York Yankees. Along with Bo Jackson, Sanders became one of the only two-sport professional athletes playing Major League Baseball and the NFL. He was the fifth overall pick by the Atlanta Falcons in the 1989 NFL draft. He would sport #21 for the Falcons.
From 1989 to 2005, Sanders dazzled the professional sports world with his abilities and charisma. He was ubiquitous, insisting he was the definition of his designed nickname, “Prime Time.” And he was correct. Sanders became a two-time Super Bowl champion (with the 49ers and the Cowboys). He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011. As for baseball, Sanders had a career batting average of .263, playing for five franchises from 1989-2001.
If accomplishing these things while playing two professional sports was not enough, Sanders also graced the cover of Sports Illustrated five times, held numerous endorsements (Nike, Pizza Hut), and was the only non-QB to host Saturday Night Live prior to 2019.
Post Playing Days
Sanders joined the NFL Network as an analyst while simultaneously dipping into the world of coaching. From 2012 – 2017, Sanders coached in Texas High School programs, where he had the opportunity to join his sons. Ultimately, this led to Jackson State hiring Sanders in 2020. Over three seasons there, Sanders led the team to a 27-6 record. Moreover, he began to establish a reputation for his positive impact on his players. Star recruits opted to join Sanders’ lesser-known program. For example, Travis Hunter chose Jackson State because of Coach Sanders instead of going to a bigger-name school.
In December of 2022, Sanders was hired by the University of Colorado. This is where the modern-day “Coach Prime” really begins. With the Buffalos sitting at 3-0 heading into their biggest game of the year in Oregon, let’s dive deeper into four ways Deion Sanders is inspiring everyone.