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Milwaukee Bucks: Handing Out Mid-Season Awards for 2019-20

By Brian Sampson

DALLAS, TEXAS - OCTOBER 11: Donte DiVincenzo #0 of the Milwaukee Bucks during a preseason game at American Airlines Center on October 11, 2019 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TEXAS - OCTOBER 11: Donte DiVincenzo #0 of the Milwaukee Bucks during a preseason game at American Airlines Center on October 11, 2019 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – MAY 17: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors attempts a shot while being guarded by Ersan Ilyasova #77 and Brook Lopez #11 of the Milwaukee Bucks in the fourth quarter during Game Two of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2019 NBA Playoffs at the Fiserv Forum on May 17, 2019 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – MAY 17: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors attempts a shot while being guarded by Ersan Ilyasova #77 and Brook Lopez #11 of the Milwaukee Bucks in the fourth quarter during Game Two of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2019 NBA Playoffs at the Fiserv Forum on May 17, 2019 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

Defensive Player of the Year: Brook Lopez

Another category and another strong case for Antetokounmpo. Nonetheless, Brook Lopez has been absolutely stellar on defense this season. If it wasn’t for Rudy Gobert, he’d have a strong chance to make the All-Defensive First Team at the end of the year.

Milwaukee’s defense is built completely around Lopez. Their perimeter defenders funnel everything toward the big man and he eats it all up; blocking 8.4 percent of shots when he’s on the floor. Their pick-and-roll defense is also predicated around a seven-footer who can block shots.

Lopez also doesn’t get enough credit for his agility. Many see him as a lumbering big man who only sticks close to the basket. In reality, he’s so much more and he deserves all the credit in the world for his defensive work this season and last.

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