The NBA’s annual Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) award is always a contentious one given the difficulty of quantifying defense easily, especially across positions. Frontcourt players have dominated the award for decades now, with only Gary Payton Sr. winning it since Larry Joe Bird was still suiting up for the Celtics.
But analysts still try to account for defensive excellence in the backcourt, such as The Athletic’s Seth Partnow, who listed Boston Celtics veteran point guard Marcus Smart along with big man teammate Robert Williams III, Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo, Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert, and Memphis Grizzlies big man Jaren Jackson Jr.
As per usual, all frontcourt players save Smart.
Given how they have been playing, at least some Celtics will be so honored – but which? https://t.co/HpIsN4HvAp
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) March 26, 2022