Doc Rivers reveals Damian Lillard was out of shape entering training camp

Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers says Damian Lillard wasn’t in proper physical condition in the leadup to the 2023-24 campaign as he awaited a trade from the Portland Trail Blazers. “I didn’t even realize Dame was traded two or three days before training camp. … We were at dinner, and he said, ‘Coach, I didn’t work out all summer. It’s the first time in my life that I’ve not worked out. I was so scared of getting injured working out,’” Rivers said Thursday during an appearance on “The Bill Simmons Podcast.” “He knew he was gonna get traded. So, he said, ‘You know, I did some light running. I did some shooting with no one in the gym. But I didn’t go (hard) at all.’ … He was honest about it, and that’s one of the reasons you love him. He said, ‘This is the worst shape I’ve ever been in.’”