Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. has been named the league’s Defensive Player of the Year, the NBA on TNT tweets. Jackson received 56 of the 100 first-place votes, according to an NBA press release.
The Bucks’ Brook Lopez and Cavaliers’ Evan Mobley were the other finalists. Lopez was the runner-up, notching 31 first-place votes while Mobley received eight. Draymond Green (3) and Bam Adebayo (1) also received first-place votes and finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
Joel Embiid claimed the final first-place vote, though the Sixers star finished ninth overall, behind Giannis Antetokounmpo, OG Anunoby, and Jrue Holiday. Nic Claxton, Alex Caruso, and Jimmy Butler also appeared on at least one ballot.
Jackson led the NBA in blocks per game (3.0) and also averaged one steal in 63 regular-season appearances for the Western Conference’s No. 2 seed. He had a career-best 2.0 Defensive Box Plus/Minus rating and a 3.8 Defensive Win Shares rating, ranking him among the top 10 in the league in both categories.
Lopez averaged a career-high 2.5 blocks while serving as the defensive anchor for the Eastern Conference’s top seed. His total of 193 blocks in 78 games led the league during the regular season.
Mobley averaged 1.5 blocks per game and, along with Jarrett Allen, anchored a defense that limited opponents to a NBA-low 106.9 points per game.
The Celtics’ Marcus Smart scored a rare victory for a guard when he won the award last season. Rudy Gobert won it as a member of the Jazz three of the previous four years. Antetokounmpo won it during the pandemic-shortened 2019/20 season.
Among active players, Green (2016/17 season) and Kawhi Leonard (2014/15 and 2015/16) have also earned the honor.
My top 5
JJJ
Jrue Holiday
Brook Lopez
Mikal Bridges
Smart
I don’t find this offensive
I would’ve voted Mobley, but JJJ is a fine recipient.
Lopez 520 blocks???
Sure, hasn’t 78 (games played) x 2.5 (blocks per game) always = 520..?
I think Mobley should have got it because he played the whole season, but Jackson is more proven over time so I don’t hate it
JJ is not only a great defensive player he has been picking up his offensive game too.
Jackson deserves it ……
He’s becoming one of top bigs. Plays both ways. Gotta love that.
I think Lopez should of got it
Somebody voted for 6’8 Bam who can’t play defense at the center position. Lol lmao rofl . What a joke. Made me laugh
Yeah Draymond stomping or kicking when he can’t handle it. Get that donkey out of here
Voters got it right. JJJ is an amazing asset on the defensive end. Only a handful of players in the league (AD and Giannis come to mind) can provide the kind of defensive versitility he does. Hard to compete with. Lopez did have a great year though.
Down year for defense overall, as the league continues its latest crack down on those who dare to defend.