Ranking Giannis Antetokounmpo's Top 3 defensive seasons so far in the NBA based on his Defensive Rating

The NBA recently published the results of the 2021-22 GM survey and Giannis Antetokounmpo came off looking quite good in the results. Although he was not voted as the favorite to win the 2021-22 NBA MVP award, the reigning Finals MVP was elected as the best defensive player in the league, as well as the most versatile defender.

'The Greek Freak' is indeed a freakish defender, having the ability to protect the rim as good as anyone, while also being able to step outside and guard smaller, faster ball-handlers and scorers.

Giannis Antetokounmpo does have an NBA Defensive Player of the Year award under his belt, being just one of five players to have won the NBA MVP and DPOY awards in their careers.

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3 Best defensive seasons in Giannis Antetokounmpo's NBA career based on Defensive Rating

He also finished second in the DPOY vote in the 2018-19 season, and could definitely take the award home multiple times going forward, as he is only 26 years of age.

Having led the Milwaukee Bucks to the NBA title in the 2021 NBA Finals with virtuoso performances on both ends of the floor, there is certainly an argument to call Antetokounmpo the best and most dominant player in today's NBA.

There is no doubt that Giannis Antetokounmpo is already the best defender in the league right now. This is despite the strategic decisions that have, at times, left us all wondering why he was not always guarding the best scorer on the opposing team down the stretch of big games.

When Antetokounmpo was asked to protect the rim and produce game-saving blocks in the 2021 NBA Finals and the postseason, he was there. Also, whenever he had to guard Kevin Durant, James Harden, Kyrie Irving, Trae Young, Devin Booker or Chris Paul due to defensive switches, Giannis Antetokounmpo answered the call efficiently.

In this article, we will give you the Top 3 defensive seasons in Giannis Antetokounmpo's NBA career so far, ranked based on Defensive Rating.

Without further ado, let us take a look.

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#3 Giannis Antetokounmpo's 2014-15 NBA season

A fan displays the flag of Greece in support of Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Only in his sophomore season, a 19-year-old Giannis Antetokounmpo started to show his prowess. He began displaying his explosiveness on the offensive end of the floor, and his versatility on defense given his length and athleticism.

In the 2014-15 NBA season, Giannis Antetokounmpo put up a 101 Defensive Rating, helping the Milwaukee Bucks rank third in Defensive Rating in the entire NBA. Antetokounmpo's performances also helped the Bucks reach the NBA Playoffs, even with an offense that was ranked in 26th place.

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#2 Giannis Antetokounmpo's 2018-19 NBA season

Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks in 2019.

During Giannis Antetokounmpo's first NBA MVP-winning campaign, in the 2018-19 NBA season, he arguably deserved to win both the MVP and Defensive Player of the Year awards.

Ultimately, he finished second in the DPOY voting behind Utah Jazz's Rudy Gobert. He put up a 99.4 Defensive Rating that year, which ranked second in the league, two spots ahead of Gobert's.

Moreover, Antetokounmpo led the best defensive team in the 2018-19 regular season as the Milwaukee Bucks finished first in Defensive Rating in the entire NBA.

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#1 Giannis Antetokounmpo's 2019-20 NBA season

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 06: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers is guarded by Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the third quarter at Staples Center on March 06, 2020 in Los Angeles, California.

Giannis Antetokounmpo's 2019-20 NBA season was set to be the best of his career after an incredibly dominant NBA campaign. The Greek superstar went on to win the NBA MVP award for the second consecutive time and his defense could simply not be ignored again.

Antetokounmpo won the Defensive Player of the Year award that year, after leading the NBA in Defensive Rating with a tremendous 97. He was the only player in the entire league to have a Defensive Rating below 100 among the qualified players (those with at least 1,500 minutes played).

Giannis Antetokounmpo became the third player to win the NBA MVP and DPOY awards in the same season during the 2019-20 campaign. Michael Jordan did it in the 1987-88 season (while also winning the scoring title) and Hakeem Olajuwon won his only MVP in the 1993-94 season and his second DPOY that same year (and also won Finals MVP honors and the NBA title).

Apart from leading the league in Defensive Rating, Giannis Antetokounmpo was first in Defensive Win Shares and Defensive Box Plus/Minus. He was obviously chosen as a member of the All-Defensive first team after winning the DPOY over Anthony Davis of the LA Lakers (75 first-place votes to 14).

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