After failing to win the NBA championship despite having the best record in the NBA last season, the Milwaukee Bucks chose to retain the team's core group, save for Malcolm Brogdon. They signed each and every one of its members to a long-term deal, including veteran center Brook Lopez, who's been one of their most impressive players.

Lopez averaged 12.5 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 2.2 blocks in 81 games for the Bucks. While those numbers don't look impressive on paper, his impact on both ends of the floor have allowed Milwaukee to become one of the best teams in the league.

On offense, he's usually looking for open 3-pointers, which makes things easier for reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. Defensively, Lopez has also been superb. Lopez's overall importance is the main reason while general manager Jon Horst decided that it was necessary to re-sign him.

In an interview with The Athletic's Eric Nehm, Horst said that Lopez is the human embodiment of the Bucks' identity as a team, which made him one of the team's top priorities in free agency.

“I think he defines, in some ways offensively and defensively, our style of play and our system more than anyone else on our team. Being at the back of our defense with the way he protects the rim and rebounds and helps us rebound and the space he gives us offensively to give us the space to allow Giannis and Eric and Khris to do the things they do. I feel like he’s really, really important, so I’m glad that we got him.”

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Aside from Lopez, the Bucks have also re-signed Khris Middleton and Eric Bledsoe. But along with those four and five-year deals comes the pressure of helping Giannis win a championship in Milwaukee. If they continue to come up short, they are in danger of losing Antetokounmpo, who could be a free agent in two years.

But it's too early to think of what could happen in 2021, and the Bucks know that. Their focus is winning the championship next season, and in a league where the competition has never been fair since 2015, this is the perfect opportunity for Milwaukee to continue their dominance in the NBA.