Warriors Are After Damian Lillard To Form Splash Bros 2.0 With Stephen Curry
Things have gotten interesting for the Golden State Warriors this summer after former Milwaukee Bucks star Damian Lillard suddenly hit the free-agent market. The Warriors, who are still fresh off the Jimmy Butler trade in February, have become the latest franchise to show interest in the star as teams across the league vie for his services.
Advertisement
'Of the many teams that reached out to Damian Lillard, the Warriors were one of those teams," said Marc Spears on NBA Today. "This is a guy who grew up at games at Oracle Arena, sneaking in the media room, getting sodas. Grew up a Warriors fan… I know it's very interesting to Bay Area people.'
Lillard, 34, began his career with the Portland Trail Blazers, where he spent 11 years leading them as a regular playoff team. Lillard grew up in Oakland, California, the site of the famous 'Oracle Arena' and the place where the Stephen Curry dynasty began. Back in Lillard's day, the Warriors were a relatively irrelevant franchise, but by the time he made it into the league in 2012, the seeds were already in place for their rise to power.
For years, Steph and the Warriors blocked Lillard's path to the Finals, and the Trail Blazers failed to get him the pieces he needed to finally take them down. During his lone trip to the NBA Finals in 2019, it was Steph and the Warriors who sent him home in defeat and ended his last best chance to make a run.
Now, Lillard and Curry could join forces in a move that would shock the basketball world. In his prime, Lillard was one of the best three-point shooters in the league, second only to Steph himself. With career averages of 25.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game on 43.9% shooting, Lillard is a generational talent who demands respect.
Advertisement
Even after tearing his Achilles tendon in April, Lillard remains a hot target across the league, and it's believed he may be able to return at some point next season to help a team make a playoff run. Considering he'd come at the veteran's minimum, even the Warriors can afford to bring him in, and they really have nothing to lose by offering him a spot.
Alongside Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green, Lillard could thrive with the Warriors and finish out his career on his terms. Not only would he get open looks and floor spacing from Steph, he'd enjoy extra coverage on defense from his team in the form of Butler, Draymond, and whoever else the Warriors can add this offseason.
With Lillard and Curry's shooting, the Warriors would be unmatched offensively, comparable only to the days of Curry and Thompson during the peak of the Warriors' run. Assuming they fill out the roster with a proper big man, Lillard's arrival could change everything for the Warriors and put them back in a position they haven't been in years.
In the end, only time will tell how Lillard's future plays out, but the decision is entirely his. At this point, he has total control over his next contract, and if he wants to sign with the Warriors, that option will be available. With close ties to the city (a lot of family there) and the potential to win a championship, there are plenty of reasons why Lillard might be favorable to joining the Warriors.
Related: Ranking The 5 Best Destinations For Damian Lillard After Getting Waived By The Bucks
This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jul 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
22 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Hornets Rookie Kon Knueppel Signs Deal with Jordan Brand
Hornets Rookie Kon Knueppel Signs Deal with Jordan Brand originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Kon Knueppel is just a few weeks into his NBA journey. His Charlotte Hornets are set to open their Summer League season on Friday night against the Utah Jazz. Advertisement The 19-year-old Milwaukee native spent one season at Duke, where he built a strong résumé. Knueppel worked his way up to become the No. 4 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Now a member of the Hornets, Knueppel is making headlines before even stepping on the court in a Charlotte jersey. On Thursday, he signed a multi-year shoe deal with Jordan Brand. Nick DePaula, who covers the NBA and WNBA shoe industry for SLAM Magazine and ESPN, broke the news on X: "Hornets rookie Kon Knueppel has signed a multi-year shoe deal with Jordan Brand." DePaula added: "The 4th overall pick in the draft will become the key Jordan endorser on Charlotte, the only NBA franchise to feature the Jumpman logo on all uniforms." Advertisement The Jumpman logo has been a Jordan Brand exclusive since 2015, when the brand opened its flagship store in Chicago. The logo, featuring the silhouette of NBA legend Michael Jordan, is worn only by the Hornets as part of their game uniforms. Kon Knueppel shakes hands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the fourth pick by the Charlotte Hornets in the first round of the 2025 NBA Penner-Imagn Images Jordan, who bought a stake in the Hornets in 2006, stepped down as majority owner in 2023 but remains a minority stakeholder. At Duke, Knueppel played in 39 games and averaged 14.4 points per game. He shared the floor with Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 draft, who now plays for the Dallas Mavericks. After Friday's game against Utah, the Hornets take on the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday. Advertisement Related: Kevin Durant's Comment on New Rockets Teammate is Turning Heads Related: Big Update Emerges on LeBron James-to-Knicks Rumor This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 11, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
22 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Kon Knueppel Got Embarrassed By Fellow Duke Alum In Summer League Debut
Kon Knueppel Got Embarrassed By Fellow Duke Alum In Summer League Debut originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Kon Knueppel finally made his NBA Summer League debut with the Charlotte Hornets on Friday, but it was not exactly a memorable one for the former Duke Blue Devils star. Knueppel struggled to find his rhythm on offense against the Utah Jazz, scoring just five points on 1-for-8 shooting from the field. He missed all five of his 3-point attempts and turned the ball over four times. Advertisement Knueppel also got some sort of a "Welcome to the NBA" moment when fellow Duke product Kyle Filipowski rejected his layup attempt. Despite using his left hand, Knueppel was not able to avoid Filipowski's reach. Unlike Knueppel, Filipowski had a spectacular outing, scoring 32 points on 12-for-17 shooting to go along with six rebounds and five assists. But the last laugh still belonged to Knueppel and the Hornets, who pulled off a 111-105 win over the Jazz at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. It was another rookie who shone for the Hornets, with former UConn Huskies star Liam McNeeley pacing Charlotte with 22 points off the bench while grabbing a total of 12 boards. Advertisement Jazz forward Kyle Filipowski (22) fouls out and walks past Utah head coach Will Hardy.© Matt Blewett-Imagn Images Although they both recently played for the Blue Devils, Knueppel and Filipowski were never on the same Duke team. Filipowski suited up for Duke from the 2022-23 season to the 2023-24 campaign before entering the NBA in 2024. Knueppel, on the other hand, was with the Blue Devils for just a season (2024-25) before getting selected fourth overall by the Hornets in the 2025 NBA Draft. Up ahead for the Hornets is a date with the Philadelphia 76ers this Saturday at the same venue. Related: Hornets Rookie Kon Knueppel Makes Important Decision Before NBA Summer League Debut This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
22 minutes ago
- Yahoo
UConn Reacts to What Liam McNeeley Did in Stellar Summer League Debut
UConn Reacts to What Liam McNeeley Did in Stellar Summer League Debut originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Former UConn Huskies star Liam McNeeley showed what he's got on Friday night, as he starred for the Charlotte Hornets in an NBA Summer League game at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas versus the Utah Jazz. Advertisement Despite coming off the bench, McNeeley led the Hornets with 22 points on a 7-for-16 shooting from the field. Always viewed as a scorer, he knocked down three of six attempts from behind the arc, but made sure to show more than just his ability to get buckets. McNeeley added 12 rebounds and six assists in 28 minutes of action to help Charlotte eke out a 111-105 victory. Liam McNeeley stands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the 29th pick by the Phoenix Suns.© Brad Penner-Imagn Images Many took notice of McNeeley's performance, including none other than his alma mater. The Huskies sent out a post on X to acknowledge the great night that McNeeley had in Sin City. "📞📞📞," the Huskies wrote in a repost of the Hornets' announcement of McNeeley being named as Player of the Game. Advertisement McNeeley played a season in college with the Huskies and averaged 14.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists through 27 games. He was selected by the Phoenix Suns 29th overall in the first round of the 2025 NBA draft before getting traded to the Hornets along with Vasilije Micić and a 2029 first-rounder in exchange for big man Mark Williams and a 2029 second-rounder. It is also worth noting that McNeeley shone brighter on the floor against the Jazz than fellow rookie and teammate Kon Knueppel, who only had five points on 1-for-8 shooting. McNeeley will look to sustain his form and impress again when the Hornets lock horns with the Philadelphia 76ers this Saturday. Advertisement Related: Kon Knueppel Got Embarrassed By Fellow Duke Product in Summer League Debut This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
