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Milwaukee Bucks: Staff predictions for NBA and team awards

By Brian Sampson

ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 22: Head coach Mike Budenholzer of the Atlanta Hawks looks on during the first quarter against the Washington Wizards in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena on April 22, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using the photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 22: Head coach Mike Budenholzer of the Atlanta Hawks looks on during the first quarter against the Washington Wizards in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena on April 22, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using the photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images) /
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The Dairyland Express staff submitted their predictions for the awards across the NBA and specifically for the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Milwaukee Bucks open their 2018-19 NBA season on Wednesday night at the Charlotte Hornets. The Bucks will look to get out to a fast start by jumping all over the Hornets and gettin their optimistic season underway.

After going 3-1 in the preseason, many have hopped on the Bucks’ bandwagon and are predicting big things for them. These big predictions include 50 or even more wins during the season. That would be a huge leap forward from the 44 they won last year.

Before we get into all of that, however, the Dairyland Express staff voted on all the awards for the NBA and specific team awards as well. Let’s check in to see who won each award.

NBA Most Valuable Player

  • Giannis Antetokounmpo (4)
  • LeBron James (3)

In a somewhat surprising upset, Antetokounmpo takes home the NBA MVP, narrowly finishing ahead of James in the voting.

NBA Coach of the Year

  • Brad Stevens (4)
  • Steve Kerr
  • Michael Malone
  • Brett Brown

Brad Stevens is the heavy favorite to win the NBA Coach of the year award for the 2018-19 season. His Boston Celtics appear poised to make a huge run barring any injuries. Surprisingly, Mike Budenholzer didn’t receive any votes.

NBA Most Improved Player

  • Brandon Ingram (3)
  • D’Angelo Russell (2)
  • Markelle Fultz
  • Carmelo Anthony

Ingram received a lot of love here and narrowly beat out Russell for the NBA’s MIP award.

NBA Sixth Man of the Year

  • Dennis Schroder (3)
  • Spencer Dinwiddie
  • Josh Hart
  • Eric Gordon
  • Shaun Livingston

Schroder, the new member of the Oklahoma City Thunder, is the only player to receive more than one vote here. Even though he’s starting the year with the first five, he’ll quickly move to the bench once Westbrook returns.

NBA Rookie of the Year

  • Luka Doncic (4)
  • DeAndre Ayton (3)

In what turned out to be a two-player race, Doncic barely escapes Ayton’s grasps for the Rookie of the Year.

Bucks’ Most Valuable Player

  • Giannis Antetokounmpo (7)

Was this ever a question?

Bucks’ Most Improved Player

  • Malcolm Brogdon (2)
  • Eric Bledsoe (2)
  • Thon Maker (2)
  • Sterling Brown

Unfortunately, we have a three-way tie for the Bucks’ most improved player. Brogdon, Bledsoe and Maker each received two votes.

Bucks’ Newcomer of the Year

  • Brook Lopez (4)
  • Mike Budenholzer (2)
  • Ersan Ilyasova

A couple of people got innovate with the Bucks’ Newcomer of the Year and went with Budenholzer instead of a player. Still, it wasn’t enough to take over Milwaukee’s new starting center, Lopez.

Bucks’ Sixth Man of the Year

  • Ersan Ilyasova (2)
  • Tony Snell (2)
  • Donte DiVincenzo
  • Thon Maker
  • John Henson

The Bucks will need big contributions from their bench this year so it’s nice to see the committee thinks they have a number of players who can contribute in the second unit.

Huge shoutout to Mike Wendlandt, Micheal Mortensen, Jim Quinlan, TJ Bain, Sam Brahm, Gage Bridgford and Brian Sampson to voting on the panel. Make sure to follow Dairyland Express for Bucks’ coverage all season long.

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