NBA Season Preview 2019-20: Predictions for each individual award

Defensive Player of the Year

1. Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers
2. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
3. Kawhi Leonard, LA Clippers
4. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
5. Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz

You could’ve made the case for Giannis Antetokounmpo winning two major awards last season, as he ran away with MVP honors and finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting. To avoid a repeat of something that could’ve happened last year, we’ll mix it up with someone who should capitalize on the spotlight he’ll be under all season long.

It wasn’t long ago that Anthony Davis was leading the league in blocks and known as an all-around terror on the defensive end. His Pelicans teams weren’t as stout as they needed to be for him to win DPOY, however, and they were too far removed from the national radar even when they were.

That won’t be the case with the Lakers, who already ranked 13th in defensive rating despite LeBron James basically sleeping on that end all year. The arrival of the Brow should wake the King up, and even if it doesn’t, Davis will gain a lot of favor with voters if he’s the anchor of an improved defense for a legitimate contender.

His preference of playing power forward over his best position (center) could hold him back, but as long as he anchors a stingy defense, he’ll be near the top of the pecking order. Narratives drive these awards and all eyes will be fixated on the Lakers, so whatever progress they make on defense will be amplified and accredited to AD.

The Greek Freak could very well add DPOY to his trophy case this season (as well as another MVP), but losing Malcolm Brogdon means the Milwaukee Bucks’ top-ranked defense could take a step backward. If the best defender on the NBA’s best defense didn’t win last year, it’d take something special for Giannis to amend that in 2019-20.

Joel Embiid is another candidate that shouldn’t be overlooked, but if the Sixers improve from last year’s 14th-ranked unit on that end, a lot of that credit will go to the arrivals of Al Horford and Josh Richardson. Kawhi Leonard should never be counted out, but his defense wasn’t as stifling with the Raptors as his Spurs days, and he’ll have Paul George and Patrick Beverley to relieve the pressure off having to smother everything that comes his way.

Rudy Gobert is a top candidate again, but voter fatigue will likely hold him back after winning in back-to-back seasons. Draymond Green is still one of the NBA’s best and most versatile defenders, but the Golden State Warriors lost some key personnel on that end this summer. It’d take a massive effort from him for the Dubs to even rank in the top 10 in defensive rating.

PG-13 finished third in DPOY voting last year, but it’s hard to project what his season will look like given how he struggled through a shoulder injury last year. Myles Turner somehow got very little DPOY love despite leading the league in blocks and being the anchor of the NBA’s third-ranked defense.

Marcus Smart and Dejounte Murray are absolute hounds on the ball, but Murray is coming off an ACL tear and it’d take something truly special to buck the trend of wings and bigs primarily winning this award. Mitchell Robinson might lead the NBA in blocks this year, but the New York Knicks’ defense probably won’t be good enough.

AD ultimately gets the nod over the Greek Freak, the Klaw, the Process and the Stifle Tower since the Lakers will be under the microscope. Plus, it’s high time he added a DPOY trophy to his resume anyway.