Who Won Defensive Player of the Year in the NBA?

Here are the top 5 defensive players in the NBA according to ESPN. Who do you think should have won the title of Defensive Player of the Year?

Giannis Antetokounmpo- Milwaukee Bucks

Giannis Antetokounmpo was born in Athens, Greece to Nigerian parents. His father, Charles, played professional soccer in Nigeria, and his mother, Veronica, was a high jumper. Giannis has three brothers: Thanasis, Francis, and Kostas. He also has a sister named Aleka. Giannis did not start playing organized basketball until he was 15 years old.

In the 2013 NBA draft, the Milwaukee Bucks selected Antetokounmpo with the 15th overall pick. He became the first player drafted in the second round to be named Rookie of the Year (unanimous). In 2017, he was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) and Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) in the NBA. He is the first player in Bucks history to win MVP and DPOY in the same season.

Rudy Gobert- Utah Jazz

Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz has been named the 2019-20 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, the league announced Monday.

Gobert, who is also a two-time winner of the award (2017-18, 2019-20), becomes the first player in NBA history to win back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year awards three times. He joins Dwight Howard (2009-10, 2010-11) and Ben Wallace (2002-03, 2003-04) as the only players to win the award in consecutive seasons multiple times.

“Rudy’s commitment to excellence on both ends of the floor has helped him become one of the best players in our league,” said Jazz head coach Quin Snyder. “His defensive instincts, length and athleticism allow him to impact the game at an elite level on a nightly basis. Rudy’s leadership and constant hustle are contagious and have helped establish our defensive identity.”

Gobert led the league in blocks per game (2.7) and total blocks (147) while also ranking second in defensive rating (98.7) and fourth in rebounds per game (13.5). He helped anchor a Jazz defense that finished second in opponents’ points per 100 possessions (102.4), third in opponents’ field goal percentage (.438) and fifth in opponents’ 3-point percentage (.349).

Anthony Davis- Los Angeles Lakers

Los Angeles Lakers star Anthony Davis has been named the 2019-20 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, the league announced Monday.

Davis, 27, averaged 2.3 blocks and 1.5 steals per game this season, leading the Lakers to the best record in the Western Conference. He is the first Laker to win the award since Shaquille O’Neal in 1999-2000.

The other finalists for the award were Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard.

Joel Embiid- Philadelphia Sixers

Joel Embiid is a Cameroonian professional basketball player for the Philadelphia Sixers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Kansas Jayhawks before being drafted with the third overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft by the Sixers. He missed his first two seasons due to injury, and made his debut on October 4, 2016. After one season where he played only 31 games, he was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. The following season, he was an All-Star for the first time and was named to the All-NBA Second Team. He has also been named two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY).

Myles Turner- Indiana Pacers

Myles Turner of the Indiana Pacers has been named the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year, it was announced Monday.

The 7-foot center is the first Pacers player to receive the honor in the 41-year history of the franchise. He averaged 2.1 blocks and 10.1 rebounds per game this season, leading Indiana to the fifth-best defensive rating in the league.

“It’s a great individual honor, but I couldn’t have done it without my teammates,” Turner said. “We pride ourselves on being a great defensive team, and I’m just happy that we were able to accomplish that this season.”

Turner is the third center to win the award in the last four seasons, joining Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz (2017) and Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors (2016).