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NBA Awards Watch: Don’t forget Anthony Davis

By Brad Rowland

New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) reacts after a basket against the Atlanta Hawks during the third quarter of a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans defeated the Hawks 115-100. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) reacts after a basket against the Atlanta Hawks during the third quarter of a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans defeated the Hawks 115-100. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) reacts after the Warriors were called for a foul against the Phoenix Suns in the first quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) reacts after the Warriors were called for a foul against the Phoenix Suns in the first quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /

Defensive Player of the Year

  1. Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors – Green would be the first perimeter-oriented winner of the award since Ron Artest (cough, Metta World Peace) in 2003-2004, but he is very deserving. Golden State’s do-it-all forward is leading the league in both defensive win shares and defensive rating, and Green is stuffing the stat sheet to the tune of 8.0 rebounds, 1.4 blocks and 1.6 steals per game as well. There is nothing traditional about Draymond Green as a Defensive Player of the Year candidate, but his value is immense, and we now have analytics to provide numbers to go along with that impact.
  2. Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs – Duncan is an All-Star again, and a lot of that selection was based on his defense. At 38, he is a top-five player in defensive rating and defensive win shares to go along with 1.9 blocks per game, and without Kawhi Leonard for much of the year, Duncan’s performance kept the Spurs on the right track defensively. It would certainly have a hint of “lifetime achievement” if Duncan took home the hardware, but in the same breath, his performance in 2014-2015 stands on its own.
  3. Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz – Gobert may have wrested the title of “dominant rim protector” away from Roy Hibbert. The 7-foot-2 behemoth leads the NBA in defending shots at the rim, allowing only 37.1% shooting, and if we disqualify Hassan Whiteside based on lack of court time, Gobert would be leading the league in blocks per 36 minutes on top of that. The upside is immense, but the player we already have is very, very good.

Next: Rookie of the Year

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