The Milwaukee Bucks All-Star, who was MVP last year and is the favourite to repeat this season, ended the two-year reign of Utah centre Rudy Gobert as Defensive Player of the Year.

Antetokounmpo received 75 first-place votes from a panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters, finishing with 432 points.

"His commitment to defending and his commitment to winning is beyond incredible," Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said on TNT.

"He impacts the game with his blocked shots, his rebounding, his ability to guard all five positions ... his talent is beyond special."

Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis was second (200 points; 14 first-place votes) and Gobert (187 points; six first-place votes) third.

Antetokounmpo joined Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, David Robinson and Kevin Garnett as players to do the MVP-Defensive Player of the Year double.

He led the Bucks to the NBA's best record and helped them limit opponents to 101.6 points per 100 possessions, the league's top defensive rating, as of March 11.

"I want to thank my teammates," Antetokounmpo said on TNT.

"Without my teammates this wouldn't be possible. I know my name is on this trophy but it could have been any of these guys' names on this trophy."

Voting was conducted on games through then, before the season was suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Australian Associated Press