Despite the cutthroat competition, the off-court connections between the NBA players are always a sight to behold. The league witnessed it recently as Damian Lillard showcased his brotherly love for a 34-year-old Chicago Bulls star. Interestingly, it was not the first time the two connected as 5 years back, the point guard supported him.

Dame had labeled his fellow NBA star’s trade a ‘dirty game’ half a decade ago to voice criticism against the move. Their bond seemed to have remained intact as it was fully on display in the pre-season.

What did Damian Lillard say about the Chicago Bulls star?

The Milwaukee Bucks faced the Chicago side in their opening practice match of the season. Before the game, the Bulls superstar DeMar DeRozan paid a visit to his old friend, Lillard, as they connected off the court. The forward gave Dame a dap as the duo later spent some time talking while the media team captured the entire moment.

The 33-year-old enjoyed the instant before stepping on the court for his new franchise for the first time. He later shared the clip with the caption, “My Brother Fr,” to admire and appreciate DeRozan. The interaction caught the attention of the league as it made the fans reminisce about Damian’s support from 5 years back.

When the Toronto Raptors traded DeMar unfairly to the San Antonio Spurs, the 7-time All-Star spoke out. With the statement “It’s a Dirty Game,” he publicly criticized the Canadian organization for their decision. Thus, the recent bonding of the superstars was no surprise to the NBA supporters as they cherished the moment.

Life beyond the polished wood

The connection of the All-Stars put on display yet again the life of the athletes off the basketball court. In the ruthless business of the NBA, the expectations from the icons rise each season. In the midst of their attempt to reach greatness, the fans fail to often consider them as human beings.

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Thus, moments such as this help us remember that aspect of the league. It reminds us of the hardships the players often need to go through before relaxing. This instance was no exception, as the duo had to put a wall between them as soon as the match started.

So, what Lillard did for DeRozan stayed a benchmark for athletes around the globe. As their friendship continues to grow, the supporters can only hope for it to stay the same.

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