There have been plenty of wonderful storylines surrounding this year’s Milwaukee Bucks team. There has been first-round pick MarJon Beauchamp overcoming adversity and homelessness to make it to the NBA. Bobby Portis, the everyman’s underdog, has signed on to play in Milwaukee for the next four years. Perhaps, though, one of the least expected storylines is the renaissance of Brook Lopez. After missing most of last season recovering from back surgery, Lopez is having his best season in a Bucks uniform. In fact, so dominant has he been defensively that BetOnline has him as the favorite to win Defensive Player of the Year.
Favorites for each award:
MVP: Jayson Tatum
ROTY: Paolo Banchero
COTY: Joe Mazzulla
DPOY: Brook Lopez
MIP: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
6MOY: Russell Westbrook(Via @betonline_ag )
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) December 1, 2022
Brook Lopez so Far in the 2022-23 Season
So far this season, Lopez is playing at an All-Star level. He has only made one All-Star team in his career (2012-13 with the Nets), but has always been a decorated defender. This season, though, Lopez is playing better than he has in years. Below is a rundown of this year’s stats and how long it’s been since he had numbers that good:
- 15.5 points per game; best since 2016-17
- 5.8 rebounds per game; best since 2016-17
- 2.9 blocks per game; best ever
- 40.2% three-point shooting; best ever
Typically when one thinks of “three-and-D” players, they think of wing players, not 7-foot tall centers. However, Lopez has truly transformed himself into, perhaps, the best “three-and-D” player in the NBA.
A big question, though, is how much longer will Brook Lopez be with the Bucks? This season is the last of his contract. Obviously, he is a major part of their schemes on both ends of the court. Hopefully the Bucks and Lopez can work something out to keep him in Milwaukee for a couple more years.
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