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USA Today via Reuters

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USA Today via Reuters

The Milwaukee Bucks stunned everyone yesterday, as they announced Damian Lillard’s sudden departure from the team. This move on the second day of the free agency has shifted the NBA landscape overnight and, for the first time in his career, left Dame in the open market. As fans and media debate where the 34-year-old point guard’s next move will be. Will it be Los Angeles? Boston? Or San Francisco may be? Wherever the destination may be, he still gets to rule the court with his sneaker game.

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On Tuesday, Adidas Basketball and the former Milwaukee superstar revealed the Dame X. Although this exciting news for Lillard got overshadowed by the Bucks waving him from the team, it is still a historic feat for the veteran star. Moreover, it just means that Lillard will get to wear the Dame Xs where he lands next. The sneaker community and hoopers got a sneak peek at Dame’s tenth pair of kicks at the 2025 NBA All-Star Weekend.

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But now, after months of waiting, this highly available line of shoes is here! That, too, with a special message from Lillard himself. “Getting to 10 signature models means a lot, but I wanted to use this 10th shoe to make a real statement and bring the price down under $100. I’ve had my secondary Dame Certified line priced under $100 for a few years now, but I wanted to go all in on it for my primary shoe…” Lillard posted on X.

The NBA star expressed how he felt releasing his tenth signature shoe and also revealed that he wanted to keep the price as low as possible to make it accessible to his fans. That’s why the Dame Xs will be priced at around $95 for adults, with several stunning colorways. These colorways feature Dame’s Light, Brookfield, Dolla Red, and Zero Metallic. As for the kids, Dame has them covered by pricing his shoes for $70 in an exclusive kids’ colorway.

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The fans are buzzing with excitement after Lillard’s heartfelt gesture. The Dame X will hit the stores tomorrow, and given its low price point and beautiful colorways, it won’t be a surprise if they sell out within a day or two. While Damian Lillard gears up for his new sneaker release, teams around the league are gearing up to sign the new free agent, especially the Los Angeles Lakers.

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The Los Angeles Lakers eye Damian Lillard through free agency

It’s safe to say that no one saw Damian Lillard’s departure from the Milwaukee Bucks; not even Giannis Antetokounmpo, who reportedly isn’t happy with the team’s move. While this marks the end of ‘Dame Time’ in Milwaukee, there seems to be no shortage of new homes for the veteran point guard. Although the 34-year-old is still recovering from the devastating Achilles injury he suffered during the playoffs, teams are ready to gamble on him. But why?

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To it simply, Lillard’s stellar shooting range and clutch scoring ability make him a dream fit for any playoff team, especially the Los Angeles Lakers. This isn’t the first time the Purple & Gold have been linked with Lillard, and to get him on a minimum deal might be too good an opportunity to pass on. According to sources, the veteran superstar has already received calls from several teams, including LA. However, keeping aside the fact that he’ll be 35 when he recovers, it makes you think, where does he fit in LA?

We mean, looking at how the Lakers are structured right now, they’ve got three ball-dominant players within their starting five in LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and Austin Reaves. Adding Lillard to this mix would no doubt make them unstoppable offensively, but defensively, it could be a potential nightmare. Nonetheless, Lillard is yet to weigh in on where he wants to play next, as everyone awaits the veteran star’s decision over this chaotic offseason.

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Written by

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Rishi Rajpoot

1,457 Articles

Rishi Rajpoot is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports with over a year of experience in digital sports media. Specializing in NBA and football coverage, his work has reached a wide readership, boosting fan engagement through timely reporting, player features, and game analysis. At ES, he collaborates closely with editors and social media teams to ensure his coverage resonates across platforms and delivers value to fans. Before joining EssentiallySports, Rishi contributed to football coverage at Cricfut, where his match reports and feature stories expanded the site’s digital presence. With a strong grasp of sports journalism, audience research, and digital strategy, he combines storytelling with an understanding of how fans consume sports online. Passionate about growing engaged sports communities, Rishi continues to bring sharp insight and energy to his NBA beat.

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Md Saba Ahmed

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