So, who’s going to win Defensive Player of the Year? We’re at the All-Star break and thanks to various injuries (sorry Bam Adebayo), Ben Simmons deciding not to play half the season, possible voter fatigue and a plethora of worthy candidates staking claim, this year’s race is as fascinating as any in quite some time.
There are betting favorites because everything has odds, but handicapping Defensive Player of the Year only confirms how unpredictable it really is. The two leaders, Draymond Green and Rudy Gobert, were heavy favorites a couple months ago, but a calf injury has kept Green out for all but two games in 2022 and it’s unclear when he’ll be back. Gobert, meanwhile, just missed nine straight games and 14 out of a recent 19-game stretch.
With just under two months left in the regular season, it’s not impossible for either to return sooner than later, dominate as they once were and remind everyone why they’re deserving of another Defensive Player of the Year trophy. The Jazz rank 11th in defensive rating, but when Gobert is on the floor they’re once again in first. He’s still the premier deterrer of shots at the rim, as measured here. Golden State’s league-leading defense is at its best when Green is on the floor—though it’s still No. 1 when he doesn’t play—and he’s first by a mile in Defensive Estimated Plus/Minus.
