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SPORTS Thursday 28 sepTember 2023
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Damian Lillard is being traded from the Trail Blazers to the Bucks,

AP source says, ending long saga

By TIM REYNOLDS Toumani Camara goes
AP Basketball Writer to Portland. There is also
Damian Lillard is being draft capital that will be
traded by Portland to play involved, the person said.
alongside Giannis Ante- Trading Ayton means that
tokounmpo in Milwaukee, Devin Booker is now the
a person with knowledge lone player from the Phoe-
of the agreement said nix team that played Mil-
Wednesday, a deal that waukee in the 2021 NBA Fi-
ends his 11-year run with nals still on the Suns’ roster.
the Trail Blazers and a three- The trade continues the
month saga surrounding Bucks’ dramatic offseason
his wish to be moved else- makeover in response to
where in hopes of winning their surprising first-round
an NBA title. playoff loss to Miami.
The seven-time All-Star a They followed up that play-
player so elite that he was off loss by firing coach Mike
selected to the NBA’s 75th Budenholzer and replacing
anniversary team goes him with Adrian Griffin, who
from the Trail Blazers to spent the last five seasons
the Bucks in a three-team as a Toronto Raptors assis-
deal that sends Jrue Holi- Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) celebrates after a shot against the Orlando Magic tant. Now they’ve traded
day from the Bucks to Port- during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, March 5, 2023, in Orlando, Fla. away the two-time All-Star
Associated Press

land, Deandre Ayton from Holiday to acquire Lillard,
Phoenix to Portland and “The casuals won’t be ad- which he was long specu- ibly strong 1-2 punch of Lil- a seven-time All-NBA se-
Jusuf Nurkic from the Blaz- dressed but the trailblazers lated to be considering lard and Antetokounmpo lection. The acquisition of
ers to the Suns, according fans and city of Portland given his desire to play for heading into the new sea- Lillard comes after Ante-
to the person who spoke that I love truly will be … a contender and Portland son. Lillard was asked on tokounmpo, a two-time
to The Associated Press on and they will be addressed not seeming to have much Twitter in May 2022 to pick MVP, told The New York
condition of anonymity be- truthfully. Stay tuned,” Lil- of a chance with its current one current player he’d Times over the summer
cause none of the involved lard wrote on X, the plat- roster. want to help him reach the that he wanted to see how
teams had announced the form formerly known as He wanted to go to Miami playoffs. He gave a one- committed the Bucks are
agreement. Twitter. and made that clear. Port- word answer: “Giannis.” toward winning another
As with all trades, it cannot Excited for my next chap- land decided not to ac- Also included in the deal: championship before de-
be finalized until NBA attor- ter!” It became known on commodate that request, Nassir Little, Keon John- ciding whether to sign a
neys review the terms and July 1 that Lillard asked and instead, it’s the Bucks son and Grayson Allen are long-term deal to stay in
approve the deal. the Trail Blazers for a trade, who now have an incred- headed to Phoenix, and Milwaukee.q

Novak Djokovic takes his tennis racket onto the 1st tee of golf’s

Ryder Cup All-Star match

By ANDREW DAMPF of the hole for a gimme bounces the ball countless was engaged to the ten- But he’s already a friend
AP Sports Writer and a par 4. While Djokovic times before the toss for his nis player Caroline Wozni- and I’m rooting for him
GUIDONIA MONTECELIO, did land in the knee-high serve in tennis. acki,” Djokovic said. “So I particularly, and obviously
Italy (AP) — Ever the rough at one point during Soccer stars Andriy follow him and actually I Europe.”q

prankster, Novak Djokovic the seven-hole exhibition Shevchenko and Gareth follow everyone.
walked out onto the first prompting onlookers to Bale also participated in
tee for the Ryder Cup All- wonder whether he might the All-Star event, as well as
Star match with a tennis grab one of the two ten- Formula One driver Carlos
racket in his hand and pre- nis rackets in his golf bag Sainz.
tended to take a swing at again his highlight came Djokovic plans to return
his golf ball. on the reachable par-4 to the Marco Simone club
“It actually would be bet- 16th when he drove the outside Rome for the start
ter for me,” the 24-time green. He celebrated the of the Ryder Cup on Friday.
Grand Slam champion said shot like Cristiano Ronaldo “I have to experience this
Wednesday before going by leaping and swiveling unique atmosphere.
back to his bag and pulling with outstretched arms. At 7 a.m. on Friday, I hear
out his driver. “Obviously I am much more it is this incredible noise
Turns out he knows how to comfortable hitting a ten- and something that is quite
use a golf club, too. nis ball with my racket but unique to experience,” he
Djokovic drove his tee shot I don’t think I did too bad said.
down the right side of the today,” Djokovic said. A Serbian, Djokovic has ties Tennis player Novak Djokovic reacts to his putt on the 18th green
fairway into the first cut, hit Before his shots, Djokovic to team Europe. during an all stars golf match between Team Colin Montgomerie
his second shot onto the repeatedly went in and out “I’ve been friends with and Team Cory Pavin at the Marco Simone Golf Club in Guidonia
green within 18 feet and of his set-up position, kind Rory McIlroy for more than Montecelio, Italy, Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023.
left his birdie putt just short of like the way he often 10 years, since when he Associated Press