NBA Awards Watch: The two-way greatness of Kawhi Leonard

Defensive Player of the Year

1. Kawhi Leonard, SF San Antonio Spurs – Leonard is the best defensive player on the best defensive team in the NBA by a wide margin. That, of course, doesn’t immediately qualify him, but Leonard also leads the NBA in defensive win shares and individual defensive rating, and that speaks to his overall impact. He is an otherworldly defender on the ball, using his length, strength and quickness to the maximum capacity, and Leonard is always in the right place as a vital piece to everything that San Antonio does defensively. It is tough to imagine that anyone could player better defensive basketball from the wing.
2. Draymond Green, PF Golden State Warriors – It is impossible to accurately quantify everything that Draymond Green does defensively for the Warriors. Though it is fair to suggest that Golden State isn’t quite as good on that end of the floor this season, that isn’t due to anything with Green, as he ranks among the game’s best in many individual defensive categories. He can guard all five positions with quality, and while he’ll never lead the league in blocks or steals, Green is incredibly valuable.
3. Tim Duncan, PF/C San Antonio Spurs – Duncan remains the league leader in ESPN’s defensive RPM, and he trails only teammate Kawhi Leonard in individual defensive rating. The Spurs have freely rested Duncan in recent days, and that is a knock against him in the award sense, but Duncan serves as the anchor that allows Leonard to roam a bit. Normally, it may be a stretch to have two players from the same team in the top three, but the Spurs have been that good defensively this season.

Next: Rookie of the Year