During the Golden State Warriors dynasty, they made headlines with their offense, but the core of their greatness came from their defense. During their run, Stephen Curry led the NBA in steals in 2016 and Draymond Green earned a Defensive Player of the Year award.
Green was selected to four straight NBA All-Defensive teams. Klay Thompson was voted NBA All-Defensive Second Team last season. The Warriors elite scoring was backed up by their defense.
In 2019, things are very different. The Warriors are at the bottom of the league in several defensive categories, ranking 30th in defensive rating (117.3 points per 100 possession) and 28th in points allowed per game (121.2).
A factor in the Warriors defensive woes has been the injuries of their two best defensive players, Thompson and Green. Thompson is still recovering from his ACL injury while Green missed five games this season with a hand injury.
While the defense has been struggling for the Warriors there has been one bright spot, undrafted rookie Ky Bowman.
According to @DailyNBAStats on Twitter, Bowman is currently allowing 0.67 points per possession, which ranks fourth in the NBA. The rookie is also holding opponents to a 25 percent shooting from the field.
Breakout star Bam Adebayo of the Miami Heat leads the NBA with 0.39 points per possession and is only allowing opponents to 7 percent of their field goals.
Top 5 Isolation Defenders this season:
1) Bam Adebayo – .39 PPP (7 FG%)
2) Taurean Prince – .50 PPP (14 FG%)
3) Danilo Gallinari – .65 PPP (27 FG%)
4) Ky Bowman – .67 PPP (25 FG%)
5) Royce O’Neale – .73 PPP (25 FG%)HM: Gay (.80 PPP), Capela (.81 PPP), Kaminsky (.83 PPP) pic.twitter.com/Y1SrBk3fn7
— NBA Stats (@DailyNBAStats) November 13, 2019
Bowman’s underrated defensive ability could keep him on the roster well into the future. Curry and D’Angelo Russell aren’t elite defenders by any means, which means that along with Jordan Poole and Eric Paschall, Bowman may have a role on Golden State well beyond this season.