The NBA revealed finalists for end-of-season awards this weekend, including Defensive Player of the Year.
The three players in contention for that prize are Rudy Gobert of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Bam Adebayo of the Miami Heat, and Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs.
Some people thought they’d see Anthony Davis of the Los Angeles Lakers on that list but he once again didn’t make the cut.
Speaking about the snub, Davis was quite honest about his opinion.
According to NBACentral, Davis said:
“I’ll never get it. The league doesn’t like me. I’m the best defensive player in the league. I can switch 1 through 5. I can guard the pick-and-roll the best in the league, from a big standpoint. I block shots. I rebound.”
“I’ll never get it. The league doesn’t like me. I’m the best defensive player in the league. I can switch 1 through 5. I can guard the pick-and-roll the best in the league, from a big standpoint. I block shots. I rebound.”
– AD on the DPOY
(h/t @LADEig ) pic.twitter.com/R3dXYv6N4B
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) April 22, 2024
Davis has earned a lot of praise and accolades during his 11 years in the league.
He is, of course, an NBA champion, as well as a nine-time All-Star, three-time blocks champion, All-Star MVP, and member of the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.
Davis has been cited as one of the best defensive players in the NBA so why hasn’t he earned DPOY?
There are a number of reasons, including the tough competition from other big men throughout the Association.
For example, Gobert has been wildly dominant all year long and his Timberwolves have climbed to new heights partly because of what he has accomplished on the court.
As great as Davis has been, it’s hard to compete with a player who is getting so much attention with such a successful team.
In the grand scheme of things, Davis doesn’t need to win Defensive Player of the Year.
He has already claimed his spot in NBA history and is much more interested in winning another championship.
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