In a wide-open Defensive Player of the Year race with no clear frontrunner, Knicks forward OG Anunoby became the latest player to make a case for himself.
“I think I should be on First Team All-Defense,” Anunoby said on Friday, according to Stefan Bondy of The New York Post. “I think I should win Defensive Player of the Year. I’ve always felt that way.”
Long viewed as one of the NBA’s top perimeter defenders, Anunoby has only been formally recognized for his performance on that end of the court once, when he was named to the All-Defensive Second Team in 2023.
That’s due in part to his injury history — 2022/23 was the only season in his last four before this one in which he has played more than 50 games. He believes it’s also a result of the way his defensive impact manifests beyond the box score.
“There’s no stats for (the offensive player calling a screen to avoid you),” Anunoby said. “There’s no stat for picking up a dribble to pass. Or shot attempts — like holding the other player to no shot attempts, there’s no stat for that. So (award voters) can’t really tell. They just always give it to the big men.”
Anunoby has appeared in 70 games this season and ranks sixth in the NBA in minutes per night. He’ll set a career high in games played if he sees action in five of the Knicks’ remaining six contests, so availability isn’t a concern this time around. And while his case for All-Defense and DPOY is predicated on more than just statistics, he’s one of just three NBA players who has registered at least 100 steals and 60 blocks this season.
Anunoby is still a long shot for Defensive Player of the Year due to the Knicks’ relatively average defense (their 113.4 defensive rating is 13th in the NBA) and the fact that voters typically favor big men, as he pointed out. But he’s a solid candidate for an All-Defense spot. The 27-year-old admitted on Friday that being rewarded for his defense with either honor would be “pretty important to me,” as Bondy relays.
Spurs big man Victor Wembanyama was considered the heavy favorite for the Defensive Player of the Year award this season before he was ruled out for the season in February after being diagnosed with a deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder. Since then, the betting odds have shifted frequently, with multiple players considered the new frontrunner for days or weeks at a time.
Warriors forward Draymond Green has been the candidate making his own case most vociferously in recent weeks. Cavaliers big man Evan Mobley and Hawks guard Dyson Daniels haven’t advocated for themselves as aggressively, but others have done so on their behalf.
Draymond’s strip of Luka in the dying seconds of the most important game of the season should seal DPOY for him. I have never seen anything like it. It’s THE single play we can point to anytime someone acts like Draymond is a bad player.
I wish he’d stop shooting 3’s because he stinks at it and Draymond driving to the rim is almost always the higher % play, but Draymond is a first ballot HOFer and your 2025 DPOY. If you hate him, its pure cope. You would love him if he was on your side.
Draymond Green wins it
D Brooks should get it
The Knicks defense is terrible what is he smoking?
He only said they are relatively average based on their defensive rating, which puts them at 13th. That’s it.
They’re middle of the pack in DRtg (13th) despite not having Mitch (who is a great defender) for most of the season and the fact that two of their starters (KAT and Brunson) are limited defensively (especially KAT).
OG has been great all season. He won’t win DPOY and shouldn’t, but he’s been great defensively.
Easy having a avg defense when your in the east. Get me some stats without the Wizards included.
Luguentz Dort doesn’t get enough love for Defensive Player of the Year. He consistenly holds big scorers under their season averages. He is shutdown defender & never gets the ink he deserves.
Though I’m a Knicks fan, so I would like to see OG win it, you’re 100% right on Dort. Somehow he’s considered a great defender, but still undervalued.
Dort is a beast, top 5 definitely.
All DPOY betting lines don’t include Anunoby in their top 5:
Draymond
Mobley
Dort
Jackson Jr
Daniels
KnickerbockerAl is pretty objective in his evaluation of Knicks’ players, and I’ll trust him that Anunoby has had a great season, but I’ve seen Anunoby play very badly on national TV against OKC and the Cavs. IMO, that’ll keep him out of the DPOY discussion.
OGs defense has been solid this year and is always given the top assignment, centers included which is an argument for him to be considered. Spice in his 37 minutes a game and almost 18ppg and he’s had an extremely good season.
With that said Mobley will get the honor. In the limited time I’ve seen him this year, he’s never disappointed.
Padam said:
> With that said Mobley will get the honor. In the
> limited time I’ve seen him this year, he’s never
> disappointed
You sound certain, but at this time of the year, the betting lines on the individual rewards are highly reliable.
link to amp.foxsports.com
Dyson Daniels has been head and shoulders above everyone else defensively, this shouldn’t even be a conversation.
Came here to say pretty much the same thing as others. If OG and Bridges are such great defenders than why is the Knicks defense so average, and perimeter defense in particular?
Because Brunson and KAT are not good defenders. Brunson is undersized on defense (though he is great at drawing charges) and KAT is just not good, especially getting out to the perimeter. And they haven’t had Mitchell Robinson (who, imo, is one of the best defenders in the league; I’m obviously biased, though) for most of the season.
OG and Bridges have played very good defense all season. Watch some games and you’ll see.
I’m going with Draymond sorry
Powell should be most improved
Anyone who thinks Dyson Daniels is DPOY has no idea what great SG defense actually looks like. He gets Steals but he’s not a lockdown guy in the slightest and his team is 18th defensively. Every team in the league would rather have Lu Dort.
OG is probably the best defensive SF in the NBA right now but he’s not all-time level like a Ron Artest / Metta World Peace. A guard/wing needs to be that good to justify getting DPOY over a big.
It’s really between Mobley/JJJ/Draymond.
Daniels is like when Larry Hughes made All-Defense 1st team in 2005 (when he lead the league in steals), and then proceeded to never make another for the rest of his career.
(Given Daniels’ offensive inefficiencies, this is actually a great comp for him).
> A guard/wing needs to be that good to justify getting
> DPOY over a big.
Exactly. History is proof. Gary Payton Sr is the last on- all defender to win a DPOY.
It’s because the best bigs deliver more defensive value than the best wing defenders.
Dort should win. SGA is having an MVP season, but Dort holds down the best player on every team nearly every night which is why they have 60+ wins.
Good to see OG speaking up. Definitely Knicks DPOY. OG should get attention. He’s done this without Mitch. Towns has been better here in NY defensively. He’s still a liability at times, not a rim protector. Imo OG should be on first team all defense.
I see Jackson and Mobley as leading the way. Rim protection is a big key for team defense. Dyson is solid. Dort is good but has plenty help on OKC. Green is making a push. But where was he before trade deadline. Overall I see a close race now. Team record and rebounding also has to be considered.