Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo has been named the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year for the 2019/20 season, the league confirmed today in a press release. Antetokounmpo’s win was first reported by Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports.
Antetokounmpo helped anchor a Milwaukee defense that ranked first in the NBA by a comfortable margin, with a 102.5 rating. The reigning MVP, who routinely guarded all five positions, averaged one steal and one block per game to go along with 11.4 DRPG, and opponents shot just 36.2% when he was the primary defender, per NBA.com.
Antetokounmpo, who is a strong favorite to win this year’s MVP award as well, received 75 of 100 possible first-place votes, beating out Lakers big man Anthony Davis and Jazz center Rudy Gobert for DPOY honors. Davis (14 first-place votes) was the runner-up, while Gobert (six first-place votes) finished third after winning the award in each of the last two seasons.
Here are the full results of the 2019/20 Defensive Player of the Year voting, according to the NBA’s announcement:
- Antetokounmpo, Bucks (432 points)
- Davis, Lakers (200)
- Gobert, Jazz (187)
- Ben Simmons, Sixers (32)
- Bam Adebayo, Heat (17)
- Patrick Beverley, Clippers (7)
- Marcus Smart, Celtics (7)
- Andre Drummond, Pistons/Cavaliers (5)
- Kawhi Leonard, Clippers (5)
- Brook Lopez, Bucks (4)
- Hassan Whiteside, Trail Blazers (3)
- Jarrett Allen, Nets (1)
Besides Antetokounmpo, Davis, and Gobert, the other players receiving first-place votes were Simmons, Adebayo (two), Beverley, and Drummond.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Should’ve been Gobert. Dude shut the whole league down.
Good one. They probably weren’t going to give it to him 3 years straight.
Of course the Lakers fans think that AD should have won and that LeBron should win the MVP, but Giannis will win both.
Harden you gotta chill with these horrible takes. Sorry your team is struggling with okc…..it’s sad that Houston’s window was 1 year and was lost due to cp3 injury
Why is stating what Lakers fans say a horrible take?
Because not all Lakers fans are homers like you’re with the rockets. Some fans are able to set aside their love for their team and see things from an NBA or basketball fan perspective.
The hardwest obssession with Lebron is disturbing. Is the mention because his leadership of the top NBA defense is so big?— well way to help me remind people!
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Actually I would have voted for Ben Simmons. In the face of everyone saying he needs to shoot 3s better and be more sociable, he doubled down o n defense, getting a hand everywhere. With his knee, maybe that’s over, but he was a good combo with Thybulle, who may have inspired him, whether for the right reasons or not.
Lol acaeneglia that comment wins
Who was the guy who voted for Jarret Allen?
Probably Ramona Shleburn since she “liked the narrative”
I thought it’d be closer with Rudy. Yeah three yrs in a row makes sense. I agree he should get MVP too. Bron is second. Both had great yrs. I think both would give it up for Title Trophy. Neither will get it. It’s Kawhi back to back. Bucks will be tested with Heat. They better not look ahead. Celtics Raptors should be good series. Not a Raptor guy. I never thought they’d be this good. After losing Kawhi. Celtics better respect them too. I think the next 4 series will fun to watch.