Giannis Antetokounmpo was this morning named the 2019-20 NBA Defensive Player of the Year.
It wasn’t close, either, with the Bucks star and likely MVP winning the award in a landslide. He scooped 75 first-place votes of a total 100 possible. The award was voted on by a group of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters, who were all given one first place, second place, and third place vote.
With the award, Antetokounmpo becomes only the fifth player in history to have won both an MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in his career. The other names include Hakeem Olajuwon, Michael Jordan, David Robinson and Kevin Garnett.
The 2019-20 #KiaDPOY is… @Giannis_An34! #NBAAwards pic.twitter.com/lhzlxAc4yR
— NBA (@NBA) August 25, 2020
Antetokounmpo’s defensive numbers were off the charts this season. He averaged 13.6 rebounds, 1 block and 1 steal in a tick over 30.4 MPG. In addition, as the focal point of his teams defence, the Bucks defensive rating was an unbelievable 96.5.
Anthony Davis (LA Lakers) polled second in voting, beating out Rudy Gobert (Utah Jazz) and Ben Simmons (Philadelphia 76ers) who came third and fourth respectively.
If Antetokounmpo goes on to win MVP this season (and he is the odds on favourite to do so), he will become only the third player in history to win both awards in the same season (Olajuwon (1993-94) and Jordan (1987-88)).