Fan voting has begun for FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Best Defensive Player, a new award for the tournament. Notable candidates to receive the inaugural honor include Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic, Utah Jazz star Lauri Markkanen and Sacramento Kings guard Dennis Schroder.
Doncic has been leading the way on both ends of the floor for Slovenia, carrying the underdog roster to the round of 16 where they earned a tough victory over Italy to advance and face Germany. Doncic leads all players in EuroBasket in points and steals per game with 34 and 3.2, respectively, making him a legitimate two-way difference-maker. Slovenia’s 3-2 record in group play could hinder Doncic’s chances of winning any awards, but it’s clear that the Lakers star is more than deserving of winning EuroBasket MVP and Best Defensive Player.
Rebounding is another key area fan voters should consider and Doncic is doing his part on the boards for Slovenia as he leads the team with 8.3 per game. He is also tied with Alen Omic for the team lead in blocks, averaging 0.7 a game.
Like Doncic, Markkanen is having a strong EuroBasket run and has been dominating for Finland on both ends of the floor. He leads Finland in scoring and steals per games, averaging 26.0 and 3.0, respectively. Markkanen’s commitment to playing defense helped Finland upset Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic and Serbia in the opening round of the round of 16, setting up a quarterfinals match up with Georgia.
Lastly, Schroder has a well-established reputation for being a pest on the defensive end and his tenacity and energy has often ignited Germany’s stout defense. The point guard is one of the more veteran NBA players remaining in EuroBasket and while his counting stats may not compare to Doncic or Markkanen, he’s more than proven how important he is to Germany.
Jimmy Butler gives thoughts on Luka Doncic trade
The Lakers swung the biggest trade in NBA history when they landed Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks, prompting a wave of reactions to come in from all around the league. There isn’t much precedent for a superstar being traded in the middle of their prime, so the NBA was floored once news of the deal broke.
Initially, most people thought the trade was fake because of how impossible it seemed to be on paper. For example, Golden State Warriors star Jimmy Butler recently gave his thoughts on the trade and admitted it still looks crazy to him.
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