Damian Lillard does not play around when it comes to combat sports.
The Milwaukee Bucks guard is a known boxing aficionado, which is probably something his teammate Kyle Kuzma knew when he challenged Lillard to a fight.
Kuzma first jokingly threatened Giannis Antetokounmpo with some flying knees and elbows if the Greek Freak ever considered leaving Milwaukee. Then, in another post, Kuz called Lillard out and told the All-Star that he was “next.”
Kuzma a damn fool 🤣 pic.twitter.com/Uckrg75Kbz
— Malikthreesly (@MalikThr33sly) June 2, 2025
Lillard did not take the challenge lightly. He claimed that he would use Kuzma’s size against him to win any hypothetical bout.
“When I’m healthy… I’m stopping you in the 5th… Long torso = BHop vs. De La Hoya,” Lillard clapped back in an Instagram story post of his own.
Lillard referenced Bernard Hopkins’ iconic middleweight title defense against Oscar De La Hoya in 2004. Hopkins famously knocked De La Hoya out for the first time in the latter’s career using a vicious hook to the Golden Boy’s liver.
#OnThisDay in 2004, Bernard Hopkins finished Oscar De La Hoya to retain the Middleweight crown 👑 pic.twitter.com/L70UtmlKQf
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) September 19, 2024
One notable aspect about the fight was that De La Hoya was the smaller fighter trying to capture a belt in a heavier weight class. Hopkins had a three-inch height advantage over his opponent and had a world of experience fighting in the 160-pound division.
It’s hard to imagine Lillard replicating Hopkins’ winning strategy against Kuzma, who stands at 6’9″ and weighs about 30 pounds heavier than Dame. Perhaps the two could set a sparring date once Lillard works his way back from his Achilles injury.
