Bobby Portis Jr. goes to bat for Brook Lopez as this season's Defensive Player of the Year

Bobby Portis Jr. knows who he's rooting for in the Defensive Player of the Year race.

© Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Just like the Most Valuable Player race, the one for the Defensive Player of the Year plum is just as heated. However, in Milwaukee Bucks’ ace Bobby Portis Jr.s’ mind, there’s no question who the Defensive Player of the Year should be this season—his teammate, Brook Lopez.

Anchor of the Bucks’ prolific defense

Milwaukee’s defense is as formidable as any in the Association today, and Portis says the wily veteran is a big reason why. At 7 feet, with a burly frame, and uncanny shot-blocking instincts, Lopez is able to deter opposing players from attacking the rim, which opens up opportunities for his teammates to make plays.

“He allows people to gamble on defense. He allows us to extend the floor, he allows us to take a little more risk than you know most teams would do. We gamble a lot. Sometimes, we try to stay as solid as we can but if there's an opportunity presents itself, I think we try to go for. I know that big fellas’ back there,” said Portis.

The numbers back up Portis’ claims, as the Bucks boast of a defensive rating of 111.9—good for fourth in the entire league. With Jrue Holiday and Giannis Antetokounmpo also striking fear in opposing players’ hearts on the defensive end, the Bucks have an effective system in place that makes it difficult for opponents to score.

“He’s always active, he uses his hands, he's always in the paint, he's a great defensive player. Definitely worthy of Defensive Player of the Year. He definitely should be up there. I mean, I think it's him or Jared Jackson Jr at this point,” Portis said.

Embracing the responsibility

Now playing in his 15th season, the 35-year-old has seemingly taken a bath in the Fountain of Youth. He played in 78 regular season games and finished with averages of 15.9 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game—good for third-best in the league behind Memphis’ Jaren Jackson Jr. and Brooklyn’s Nic Claxton.

Lopez knows what the Bucks expect out of him and says he’s embraced the role wholeheartedly.

“Whatever happens, if someone's gonna come at the rim I'm gonna try to be there to stop them from putting the ball in the basket. That's exactly what I try to do out there,” said Lopez.