Milwaukee Bucks superstar Damian Lillard has pretty much done it throughout his decorated 11-year career. The one thing missing from his stellar resume is an NBA championship, which is exactly why he joined the Bucks this past summer on a blockbuster trade deal.
Nov 13, 2023; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) reacts to a call in the second quarter against the Chicago Bulls at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Given Lillard’s cache, it would be a tad disrespectful to compare him to an unproven rookie. Well, this is exactly what a media personality recently did — much to the chagrin of Bucks supporters everywhere.
NBA GM’s Allegedly Picking Jaime Jaquez Jr. Over Milwaukee Bucks Star Damian Lillard
According to a dude who goes by the name Mike Ryan Ruiz, he firmly believes that general managers from around the NBA would pick Miami Heat rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. over Dame:
“If you asked GMs who would you rather have from this point forward: Damian Lillard at his cap number or Jaime Jaquez Jr. at his cap number? I think you’d be shocked at how many people would say Jaime Jaquez,” Ruiz said (h/t Legion Hoops).
There’s no denying that Jaquez, who the Heat scooped up as the No. 18 pick of the 2023 NBA Draft, has a ton of untapped potential. In fact, this young man could be a star in the future.
However, for him to be compared to a bona fide superstar such as Damian Lillard at this point in Jaquez’s career would be a bit of a stretch, to say the least.
NBA Fans React
It wasn’t just Bucks supporters who were appalled by this statement. Basketball fans in general just could not help but call Ruiz out for this nonsense:
“If you asked GMs who would you rather have from this point forward: Damian Lillard at his cap number or Jaime Jaquez Jr. at his cap number? I think you’d be shocked at how many people would say Jaime Jaquez.”
— @MichaelRyanRuiz on @LeBatardShow 😳 pic.twitter.com/HNwzVIGtTt
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) December 1, 2023
For what it’s worth, Jamie Jaquez Jr. was rumored to be part of Miami’s proposed trade package to the Portland Trail Blazers for Lillard. I guess Portland did not exactly agree with Ruiz’s statement here.
