ESPN's Doris Burke: Damian Lillard snubbed her in his song

NBA star Damian Lillard, also known as Dame D.O.L.L.A., hints at a collaboration with Giannis Antetokounmpo on a future song.

Damian Lillard, the star guard for the Milwaukee Bucks, is widely recognized as a phenomenal basketball player and is expected to be inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame. He is known for his exceptional scoring abilities and is considered one of the greatest three-point shooters in the history of the sport.

However, Lillard has another talent that many might not be aware of – he is also a hip-hop artist who goes by the name Dame D.O.L.L.A. He has released four full-length albums on Spotify, with his latest album "Don D.O.L.L.A." coming out in 2023. His music attracts over 500,000 monthly listeners on the streaming platform. Lillard's most popular songs, "Money Ball" from 2019 and "Stuntin' on You" from 2020, have each garnered more than 13 million listens. Additionally, his farewell song to his former team, the Portland Trail Blazers, titled "Farewell," has been played over 142,000 times.

In his music, Lillard often intertwines references to his basketball career. One notable guest who made an appearance on one of his tracks is ESPN broadcaster Doris Burke. Burke, who was commentating during Lillard's preseason debut with the Bucks, was interviewed by ESPN sideline reporter Jorge Sedano before the game. Sedano asked Lillard if his teammate Giannis Antetokounmpo would feature on a Dame D.O.L.L.A. song.

Lillard responded, "Yeah, I told him I'm going to need him on a track, so we shall see."

Play-by-play announcer Jon Schriffen expressed his excitement to hear a collaboration between Lillard and Antetokounmpo in the recording studio.

Burke, known for her presence in the NBA community, humorously revealed that she had once recorded lines for a Damian Lillard track but did not make the final cut. She shared this anecdote with laughter, highlighting her familiarity with hip-hop culture. In 2016, Drake, a prominent hip-hop artist, wore a shirt featuring Burke's image with the words "Woman Crush Everyday" to a Raptors game, publicly expressing his admiration for her.

During an episode of the Road Trippin' podcast, Burke expressed her gratitude for Drake's support and how it positively impacted her reputation as a broadcaster. She acknowledged that his gesture made a difference in how people perceived her work.

All of this suggests that if Lillard wants to elevate his hip-hop career to the level of Drake's success, he might consider including the recorded lines from Doris Burke on a bonus track. This unexpected collaboration could generate significant attention and propel Lillard's musical endeavors even further.