In Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Playoffs, the Milwaukee Bucks took on the Indiana Pacers, minus their star point guard. Lillard, sidelined by injury, wasn’t lacing up, but he definitely wasn’t silent. Late in the fourth, with the Pacers pulling away, a courtside timeout turned into a war of words between Dame and Tyrese Haliburton.
Haliburton, never shy with the swagger, reportedly kicked things off with some trash talk. But Lillard, all fire and sharp wit, wasn’t about to let it slide. He clapped back with a line that instantly went viral: “Keep talking. I’ll drop a diss track on your ass.” Just like that, Dame reminded everyone, it doesn’t matter if it’s on the court or on the mic, he’s always ready to go bar for bar, doing so in a Louis Vuitton jumper.
Recently, Run It Back On Fan Duel TV was in conversation regarding the topic. When Michelle Beadle brought up the incident that earned Lillard a technical foul while donning a $1700 LV jumper, DeMarcus Cousins responded, “That’s my type of guy right there. I like it, I like it.” After the light-hearted moment, Cousins offered his analysis.
“I think the Pacers did their job. They know the team is down right now, they’re missing a valuable piece in Damian Lillard. I think the Pacers did what they’re supposed to, take advantage of a wounded animal,” stated Cousins. Remarking on the 117-98 win over the Milwaukee Bucks by the Indiana Pacers. Speaking on the Pacers’ strategy, as the Bucks struggled offensively without Damian Lillard, despite a valiant effort from Giannis Antetokounmpo, who scored 36 points and 12 rebounds.
Tyrese Haliburton got Damian Lillard riled up and earning technical fouls in Louis Vuitton
“Dame can afford it.” – @ChandlerParsons
“That’s my type of guy right there. … Pacers took advantage of a wounded animal.” – @boogiecousins@MichelleDBeadle | @TeamLou23 pic.twitter.com/T29YlmLckm
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) April 21, 2025
On the flip side, there is good news. Despite getting sidelined due to DVT on his right calf, Damian Lillard has been upgraded to questionable for his appearance in Game 2 against the Pacers in the playoffs. Reports suggest that even if he misses Game 2, he should be fit by Game 3. It’s looking like the trash talk just upped the ante.
Speaking of trash talks and lacerating comebacks, do you know where Dame gets his killer lines from? Other than basketball, Dame is also a skilled rapper and has been spitting bars for years. Let us take a look at his rap escapades.
Damian Lillard’s rap career
Damian Lillard, the Milwaukee Bucks star, moonlights as a rapper under the name Dame D.O.L.L.A., which stands for “Different On Levels the Lord Allows.” Cool, right? His love for music actually started way back, inspired by his cousins, Eugene “Baby” Vasquez and Brookfield Duece, the latter being a pretty well-known name in the Oakland rap scene. So, rap wasn’t just a hobby, it was in his blood.
Dame really started turning heads with his #4BarFriday movement on Instagram. Every Friday, he’d post a quick freestyle, and it caught on fast. Fans started joining in, and suddenly there was this whole community of people spitting bars together online. It was grassroots, genuine, and people loved it.
In 2015, he dropped his first real single, “Soldier in the Game,” on SoundCloud, and it blew up. Since then, he’s collaborated with some serious heavyweights in the music industry like Lil Wayne, Snoop Dogg, 2 Chainz, Mozzy, and Jeremih. His tribute track “Kobe” with Snoop and Derrick Milano even made it into NBA 2K21, which is just, iconic.
People actually consider Dame one of the best rappers in sports. Like, not in a “he’s good for an athlete” way—but legit good. His lyrics are sharp, his delivery’s clean, and there’s real heart in what he does. A lot of that comes from his Oakland roots, which he reps hard in songs like “Dre Grant.” And he’s not just doing it for himself; he started his own label, Front Page Music, to help other artists shine too, including his cousin Brookfield Duece. Dame’s out here building legacies—both in sneakers and in studio booths.
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