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NBA Awards Watch: Klay Thompson on the rise

By Brad Rowland

Jan 23, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) is greeted after scoring a three point shot against the Sacramento Kings in the second half of their NBA basketball game at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports. Thompson set a record 52 points in their win over the kings.
Jan 23, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) is greeted after scoring a three point shot against the Sacramento Kings in the second half of their NBA basketball game at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports. Thompson set a record 52 points in their win over the kings. /
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Houston Rockets forward Josh Smith (5) scores a basket during the second quarter as Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) defends at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Houston Rockets forward Josh Smith (5) scores a basket during the second quarter as Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) defends at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

Defensive Player of the Year

  1. Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs – The ageless wonder keeps on ticking. Duncan ascended to the top spot last week, and there is no reason to knock him, especially when considering that the 38-year-old lands in the top-five (according to Basketball-Reference) in both defensive rating (96.8) and defensive win shares (2.7). Duncan is averaging 2.0 blocks per game in just over 30 minutes, but more than that, his defensive acumen is basically unmatched in the NBA after 15-plus years of success, and Duncan is an invaluable member of San Antonio’s elite-level defense.
  2. Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors – Many of leaned toward Green as the front-runner here, and I am beginning to come around. Like Duncan, Green has been a monster in advanced stats, including the fact that he leads the NBA in both defensive rating (96.1) and defensive win shares (3.0). The trump card for Green, though, is that he is perhaps the most important piece for the league’s best overall defense, as Golden State is allowing just over 97 points per 100 possessions, placing them in rarified air. He definitely does not fit the traditional profile of a shot-blocking maven as defensive player of the year, but Draymond Green does it all for the Warriors.
  3. Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz – If Rudy Gobert played 30-plus minutes per game, there is no doubt in my mind that he would win Defensive Player of the Year honors. The 22-year-old has emerged as the most dynamic shot-blocker in the NBA, leading the league in block percentage (7.9%) with 3.6 blocks per 36 minutes, and he is currently in a tie for fourth in blocks per game despite playing only 21.6 minutes per game. His per-minute production, largely on the defensive end, has been enough to propel Gobert into the top-15 of the NBA (!) in win shares per 48 minutes, and he is a big-time worry for the opposition.

Next: Rookie of the Year

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