A handful of players have had their names mentioned in this season’s category of best defensive players, some new names and some old ones. A new name would be Atlanta Hawks’ Dyson Daniels, who’s had a terrific season since being dealt by the New Orleans Pelicans. An old one would be Draymond Green, who has once again proved to be the catalyst within the Golden State Warriors system despite his age and lack of offensive production. Defensively, both Green and Daniels have deserved to be in the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year conversation. Unfortunately, not all would have it this way, and New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby is one who believes he should be the DPOY.
NY Knicks Defender Insists DPOY Should Be His
New York Knicks’ OG Anunoby Wants to Win DPOY, Plus First Team All-Defense
Anunoby has one thing going for him: he is one of, if not the best, perimeter defenders across the league. His particular skill set and abilities in that area have earned him an All-Defensive Team selection before, but as part of the second team, not the first. That was in 2023, and Anunoby believes he deserves First Team consideration this year, in lockstep with Defensive Player of the Year as well. According to The New York Post’s Stefan Bondy, Anunoby is confident in this and believes that his impact, outside of putting up points and pulling down rebounds, makes his case.
“I think I should be on First Team All-Defense. I think I should win Defensive Player of the Year. I’ve always felt that way,” Anunoby said. “There’s no stats for (the offensive player calling a screen to avoid you), there’s no stat for picking up a dribble to pass, or shot attempts — like holding the other player to no shot attempts, there’s no stat for that. So (award voters) can’t really tell. They just always give it to the big men.”
Good Point, Anunoby, Except…
Anunoby is right about one thing: Much of the most impactful defensive plays aren’t recorded. Case in point: three weeks ago, the Los Angeles Lakers held Nikola Jokić to just seven shot attempts. There are no stat records for that, nor do the Lakers defenders receive a checkmark on a piece of paper signifying their forced “no shot attempts for Jokić.” That said, where Anunoby missed it is that it’s not always the big men who receive the DPOY award. Marcus Smart—no big man by any means—won the award in 2022.
Additionally, for three straight seasons—2015, 2016, and 2017—three forwards (all not considered “big men”) won it: Kawhi Leonard twice and Green. For the most part, yes, centers and “big men” forwards like Jaren Jackson Jr., for example, are usually the DPOY candidates and winners. But that isn’t always the case, as Anunoby states.
A Valiant Case, But It’s Not to Be
As great a defender as Anunoby is, he won’t take any DPOY award home this season. He will almost certainly make an All-Defensive Team, though, whether it’s the first or second. At the end of the day, someone like Green has done more for his team, and Golden State’s defense is much better than New York’s; that has to count for something. Whether Green wins his second DPOY remains to be seen, of course, but his case is strong; stronger than Anunoby’s.
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