Damian Lillard Explains ‘Biggest Challenge’ of Move to Milwaukee Bucks: ‘It’s An Everyday Battle’

It has been three months since Damian Lillard was traded from the Portland Trailblazers to the Milwaukee Bucks, a trade that the star guard requested in the offseason.

So far, Lillard seems like the perfect addition to a Bucks team that already was considered a title-contender. He is averaging 26.2 points, 7.0 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game so far this season.

While the transition is going well on the court, Lillard is still working to adjust in his personal life.

"That’s probably been the biggest challenge, being away from my kids,” Lillard told Andscape's Marc J. Spears. “Being away from everything that I’ve known. It’s a hurdle. It is an everyday battle.

"Any father or any mother would know that. When you wake up and you are able to be physically present with your kids, there is nothing else that you love more in the world."

Lillard obviously now lives in Milwaukee, but his three kids, live with their mom in Portland. Lillard and his wife are in the process of a divorce, making time with his children even more limited.

"So being away from my kids, I wake up every day like, man, they are not seeing my face today physically," Lillard said. "I can’t hug them. I can’t go pick my son up from school. I can’t pick up my twin daughters and son.

"It’s things that you just can’t do being this far away. And those are things that I love to do the most and I take a lot of pride in. When you get stripped of that, and for a great reason, there is a lot to be thankful for. But it’s just hard.”

The holiday season is supposed to be filled with joy and family, but this is a challenge for some NBA players, especially those who play on Christmas Day. Lillard will be spending Christmas morning at Madison Square Garden getting ready for a matchup with the New York Knicks.

To make up for his absence on the actual day, Lillard's kids paid him a visit in Milwaukee last week to celebrate the holiday a little early.

“The main thing for me was just being present and just having that quality time with my kids,” Lillard said. “It’s Christmas, so I want them to see the lights. I want them to open up gifts.

"I want them to feel in the in the spirit of it. Decorate the Christmas tree, see the decorations and candy canes, whatever. All of those things, the Elf on the Shelf.

"But the most important thing for me is the time and make sure they feel my presence, feel the love and enjoy it while we have it, while I have them here.”