Defense wins championships. As the age-old saying goes, playing sound defense usually results in success, in any sport. With recent rule changes across the board, however, defensive players usually go underappreciated. The NBA Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) is an award that honors the player who most impacted the game on the defensive end. Recently, the award has been given to centers (Dwight Howard, Marc Gasol, Joakim Noah to name a few), but this year might be different. Here are the top 5 NBA DPOY candidates so far this season.
Honorable Mention
Stephen Curry, Rudy Gobert, Trevor Ariza, John Wall, Taj Gibson
The Favorites
5. Tony Allen
Tony Allen is a well-noted defensive expert, and has been for just about his entire career in the NBA. When he got injured this year, the Grizzlies’ defense predictably slumped (though some of that had to do with losing Zach Randolph at the same time), but has recovered since his return. He is tied for the league lead in steals per game at 2.2, has the league’s highest steal percentage at 4.5, and is fourth in defensive box plus/minus, behind Draymond Green, Tim Duncan, and Rudy Gobert. Like Green, Allen is one of the few non-centers to even contend for NBA DPOY, but rightfully so.
4. Anthony Davis
Perhaps lost in his rise to stardom and MVP candidacy has been the continued growth of Anthony Davis’ defensive game. Davis is continually tasked with guarding guys who are bigger and stronger than him, and he won’t reach his full potential until he adds a little more muscle and can more effectively deal with them. However, that hasn’t stopped him from leading the league with 2.9 blocks per game, while coming in second with a 6.1 block percentage. His overall player efficiency rating of 31 leads the league, and while much of that has to do with what he does on the offensive end, his defense is not far behind.
3. Tim Duncan
The Big Fundamental may be past his prime, but his defensive effort is as stout as ever. Though he has been praised primarily for his offense throughout the years, Duncan’s defense ranks in the upper echelon of the NBA. Duncan is averaging 2.1 blocks per game, is second in the NBA in defensive box plus/minus at 4.2, trailing only Draymond Green (4.4), and is second behind only Green again in defensive rating. Despite dealing with injuries to key players all year, the Spurs are still in the playoff hunt thanks in large part to ole Timmy. He may not win the award again this year, but his efforts should not be understated.
2. DeAndre Jordan
A huge factor in being a great defensive team is finishing possessions. In a word: rebounding. DeAndre Jordan has done just that this season, as he leads the league with 13.6 rebounds per game. He also leads the league in defensive rebounding percentage and overall rebounding percentage at 31.9 and 23.6, respectively. Aside from his dominance on the glass, Jordan has done his part patrolling the paint as well. He is second in the NBA with 2.4 blocks per game and is fourth in the league in block percentage. Jordan is a beast in the paint, and that puts him on the map for NBA DPOY.
1. Draymond Green
Among all the storylines in the Golden State Warriors’ ascent to the top of the western conference, the improved play of Draymond Green has gone under the radar. The 3rd year player out of Michigan State has surged to the top of the DPOY rankings on the back of the most defensive win shares in the league with 2.6. He is 12th in the league in blocks per game, and his versatility has helped the Warriors establish a top defense in the NBA. If his play continues at this high a level, Green could be the first non-center to win the DPOY since Metta World Peace (then Ron Artest) in 2004.