Milwaukee Bucks: Who is in consideration for 2018-19 NBA awards?

The Milwaukee Bucks are having a historic season. Which Bucks are in serious consideration for the 2018-19 NBA awards, and will they win?

The Milwaukee Bucks accomplished something last season they had not in 15 years, making the postseason in back-to-back seasons. This year they did not simply hold the status quo, but blew it out of the water, increasing their win total by 16 (or 17, depending on Wednesday’s result).

Such elite success comes from a number of sources; this is not a team adding a superstar player and making a jump, but rather a solid core adding new faces in the rotation and on the sideline, and performing at an all-league level. This Bucks team is by every measure a true contender, and a number of people are integral to that fact.

Thankfully a number of awards exist to recognize those players, coaches and executives that propel a team to excellence. What will be unique about the Bucks is that they are not led by a pair or trio of superstars, such as the Golden State Warriors or Cleveland Cavaliers in recent seasons. Instead they have a transcendent superstar in Giannis Antetokounmpo surrounded by solid players throughout the rotation.

This means a number of players are in line for a variety of accolades come season’s end. Which awards will have a member of the Milwaukee organization in serious contention? We will look at five awards, trying to highlight players who could realistically earn the award in question (Khris Middleton is not an MVP candidate, for example).

Unfortunately the Bucks have no candidates for Rookie of the Year or Sixth Man of the Year, but all of the other major awards should be in play. Let’s begin with Most Improved Player, where a handful of Bucks could make their way onto the ballot.