Damian Lillard has come to the defense of his Bucks teammate, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, who has been the target of relentless trolling for several months due to his frequent lowlights. Lillard also addressed the claims made by non-NBA players who believe they could beat Thanasis in a game of 1-on-1. “I see a lot of the criticism directed at TA on social media,” Lillard said in an interview with Complex. “Many guys may think they are more talented, but they could never take his spot. People try to be humorous.” Damian Lillard challenges NBA Twitter to back up their talk when it comes to taunting Thanasis Antetokounmpo.

Lillard praised Thanasis for his defensive prowess, highlighting his size, strength, athleticism, aggressiveness, and physicality. He emphasized Thanasis’ dedication to the team, his work ethic, and readiness to contribute when called upon. Lillard expressed admiration for Thanasis’ commitment to his role on the team and suggested that those who mock him would gain respect for him if they knew him personally. The criticism of Thanasis online has been particularly harsh due to the perception that he is only in the NBA because of his superstar brother, Giannis Antetokounmpo. Thanasis has been a part of the Bucks since the 2019-20 season and has averaged 2.5 points and 1.6 rebounds in 7.9 minutes per game over his NBA career. Prior to joining Milwaukee, Thanasis played for the Greek professional team Panathinaikos.