Damian Lillard’s $500,000 Prize Isn’t Just for Him: Find Out How He’s Using it in the Most Unexpected Way, With The Most Shocking People – Milwaukee’s Unsung Heroes
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34), guard Damian Lillard (0) and center Brook Lopez (11) celebrate after winning the Emirates NBA Cup championship game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
Damian Lillard had promised to share his $500,000 cash prize — the incentive earned by each player in the roster of the 2024 Emirates NBA Cup-winning team — with the Milwaukee Bucks’ staff. Nearly a week after the victory in Las Vegas, reports confirm that Lillard has kept his promise.
“I wanted to support the regular and ordinary employees of the team,” Lillard reportedly said after donating his prize money.
A die-hard fan of Lillard posted about Dame’s generous act on X. @Kimmyann1111 posted a screenshot of a report that suggested Lillard distributed the $500,000 equally among the cleaning staff and the blue-collar employees of the organization. The 34-year-old also gifted towels to the locker room staff.
“Big respect to Damian Lillard. With the $500,000 he won in the Tournament Cup, he went and split it equally between the cleaning staff and the Milwaukee Bucks court staff! He even distributed towels to those who take the shirts and shoes to the locker room. What a Christmas bonus,” the screenshot of the Facebook post read.
#DameLillard #DamianLillard #Bucks #RipCity ❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/kHo4tG4t1T
— KimmyAnn (@kimmyann1111) December 22, 2024
As word spread, fans lauded Lillard’s generosity. Many took to social media to praise the Bucks star for his “class act”.
@Dame_Lillard
— ᑎ (@__Noisee_) December 23, 2024
Good deed
— ann wall (@shopshi) December 23, 2024
Damn. That’s a class act right there
— rockbalbowski.eth (@RockyBalberoni) December 23, 2024
The money may be a small chunk of Lillard’s yearly salary, but it is a significant amount for the staff members. Dame has displayed this spirit of sharing since his early days with the Portland Trail Blazers. He has been inspired by veterans like Chris Kaman.
Lillard’s charitable deeds in the past
Lillard has consistently dedicated a significant portion of his net worth to charity and causes working toward societal upliftment. He was the recipient of the NBA Cares Community Assist Award in 2021.
As the global ambassador for the Special Olympics Oregon (SOOR), the star guard donated $10,000, representing Kaiser Permanente and the NBA. This act helped SOOR prepare for the Summer Virtual Games.
“We are so honored that Damian has chosen to share this tremendous gift, along with the talent, dedication, and support he has long contributed to Special Olympics Oregon,” Britt Oase, the SOOR CEO, said at the time.
Lillard is also committed to using his standing as a professional athlete to make a positive impact, providing kids from his hometown with access to the resources he lacked during childhood.
“I’ve just reached the point where the most important thing to me is giving back and lifting people up and having an impact on people,” he said in a 2022 interview.
Players like Dame reflect the NBA’s values and serve as an inspiration for young athletes in the league to engage in similar charitable efforts.
