Milwaukee Bucks center in 2023 are Brook Lopez, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bobby Portis, and Sandro Mamukelashvilli.
Brook Lopez is the starting player, and Bobby Portis is the second choice on the 2023 roster. Meanwhile, as the third and fourth candidates, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Sandro Mamukelashvilli are the two power forward players in the options.
A basketball team has five players, and a center is a key position on the court. They usually include the tallest players on the team, mostly around 7 feet, along with the appropriate strength and body mass to handle the defense.
While they are known to defend the basket from close attempts to score, they also have high efficiency in offense and scoring with rebounds.
The Bucks had multiple center players in their 55 years of history that have significantly contributed to the team's success. Starting with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, that led the team to win their first NBA championship in 1974, Bob Lanier, Jack Sikma, and Moses Malone are some of the best centers to play with the Bucks.
Currently, the official center for the team is Brook Lopez, standing at a towering height of 7 feet 1 inch. Besides Brook, the other three players are known for playing both center and forward positions.
The four Milwaukee Bucks center players from the 2023 roster are listed below according to their starting positions.
1. Brook Lopez
Brook Lopez is a professional basketball center for the NBA team Milwaukee Bucks. Brook has been playing with the Bucks since July 17, 2018.
Full Name
Brook Robert Lopez
Height in feet
7 feet 1 inch
Age
34 Years Old
Weight
128 Kgs or 282 Lbs
Birthplace And Date Of Birth
Born on April 1, 1988, in Los Angeles, California
College
Stanford University
Draft Year
NBA Draft 2008, Round 1, 10th overall pick by New Jersey Nets
Career and Position
Center for Milwaukee Bucks since 2018
Parents
Father Heriberto Lopez and Mother Deborah Ledford
Siblings
Chris, Alex and Twin brother Robin Lopez,
Girlfriend
Hailee Strickland (Engaged since August 15, 2022)
Lopez learned to play basketball from his older brother Alex who played for the University of Washington team. After entering San Joaquin Memorial High School, he joined the school basketball team along with his twin Robin Lopez.
Continuing his studies at Stanford University, the 7-foot-1-inch player joined the Stanford Cardinals and became the Mcdonald's All-American in 2006. In addition, he was an All-Pac 10 honorable mention and was named to its Freshman team.
In the NBA draft in 2008, he was selected by the New Jersey Nets as a first-round, 10th-overall pick. He became an NBA All-Star while playing for the Nets in 2013 and moved to Milwaukee Bucks in 2018.
Similarly, Brook won his first NBA Championship ring while playing for the Bucks in 2021.
2. Bobby Portis
Bobby Portis is a professional power forward and center player for the Milwaukee Bucks in 2023. Bobby joined the Bucks on November 26, 2022.
Full Name
Bobby Portis Junior
Height in feet
6 feet 11 Inches ( 2.18m)
Age
28 Years Old
Weight
113kg (250lb)
Birthplace and Date Of Birth
Born on February 10, 1995 in Little Rock, Arkansas
College
Arkansas University
Draft Year
2015 NBA Draft, 22nd pick by Chicago Bulls
Career And Position
Power Forward and Center for The Bucks since 2020
Parents
Mother Tina Edwards and Father Bobby Portis Senior
Siblings
Jared Portis, Jamaal Portis, and Jarod Portis
Relationship Status
Single
Portis started playing basketball at Hall STEAM Magnet High School in his hometown. After receiving the McDonald's and Parade All-American status in high school, Bobby was named Mr. Basketball of Arkansas in 2013.
Moreover, the 6 feet 11 inches tall power forward made a name for himself in his freshman year at Arkansas University by being named to the Southeastern Conference team from the start.
In the following year, he obtained the title of SEC player of the year in 2015. Following his graduation, he entered the NBA draft 2015 and got selected by the Chicago Bulls as the 22nd overall pick.
Bobby joined the Milwaukee Bucks in 2020 and got his first-ever NBA championship ring in 2021. The following year, he signed a four-year contract worth $49 million with the Bucks at the beginning of the NBA’s free-agency period on July 6, 2022.
Although he is not a starting player for the team, he is listed second in line for both power forward and center positions.
3. Giannis Antetokounmpo
Giannis Antetokounmpo is the only MVP player in the 2023 roster of the Milwaukee Bucks. Giannis plays the power forward and center for the Bucks.
Full Name
Giannis Sina Ugo Antetokounmpo /Adetokunbo
Height In Feet
7 feet 0 inches (2.13m)
Weight
110kg (243lb)
Age
28 years old
Birthplace And Date Of Birth
Born on December 6, 1994, in Athens Greece
Draft Year
NBA Draft 2013, 1st Round, 15th Overall pick by The Bucks
Career And Position
Power Forward for the Milwaukee Bucks since 2013
Parents
Father Charles and Mother Veronica Antetokounmpo
Siblings
Four Brothers; Francis, Thanasis, Kostas and Alex.
Girlfriend
Mariah Riddlesprigger
Antetokounmpo started playing basketball for a youth team in Athens called Filathlitikos. Later, he started playing in the senior team of the Greek B Basket League in 2011 before entering the NBA draft in 2013.
The Bucks drafted him as the 15th overall pick in the first round, and he has been playing with the team since 2013. The 7-foot tall power forward has obtained many achievements during his tenure with the team.
Giannis has become the NBA All-Star player consecutively for seven years since 2017. Similarly, he got the title of NBA MVP twice and even became an NBA Finals MVP in 2021.
After winning his first NBA championship ring in 2021, the Greek-Nigerian power forward was also chosen for the 75th Anniversary NBA team. He also plays as a center for the team when required since his tall figure compliments him in both positions.
4. Sandro Mamukelashvili
Sandro Mamukelashvili is a Georgian-American basketball player for the NBA team Milwaukee Bucks.
Mamukelashvili is under a two-way contract with the team to represent the Bucks in NBA and their NBA G League team. He has to divide his time between the Wisconsin Herd and the Bucks.
Full Name
Alexander "Sandro" Mamukelashvili
Height In Feet
6 feet 10 inches
Weight
109 kg (240 lb)
Age
23 Years Old
Birthplace And Date Of Birth
Born on May 23, 1999 in New York City, New York, U.S.
College
Seton Hall
Draft Year
2021 NBA Draft, 2nd Round, 54th Overall pick by Pacers
Career And Position
Power Forward / Center For Milwaukee Bucks Since 2021
Parents
Mother Marianna Oakley and father Zurab Mamukelashvili
Siblings
Two Brothers; David and George Mamukelashvili
Relationship Status
Single
Growing up in Georgia, Sandro started his basketball journey at a young age after being introduced to the game by his brother.
Later, he went to Italy to study high school and represented the Italian U17, U18, and U19 teams, helping them become third in the national finals.
Returning to the States in 2016, he joined the Montverde Academy to pursue a career in basketball. After graduation, he enrolled at Seton Hall University and played with the Pirates until graduation in 2020.
Mamukelashvili was listed for the 2020 NBA draft but failed to get chosen on the first attempt. However, he did not lose heart and tried once again in the 2021 NBA draft, where he was selected 54th overall by the Indiana Pacers.
Meanwhile, he was traded by the Pacers to the Bucks along with other players in exchange for the draft rights of the 31st pick, Isaiah Todd.
