Anthony Davis is one of the most dominant defenders in NBA history, yet the Los Angeles Lakers star has never won the Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) award. This season, Davis has expressed frustration about the narrative surrounding San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama, who has quickly become a favorite for the prestigious honor.
“Defensive Player of the Year… I feel the narrative is being pushed for Wemby to get it, right. He’s averaging, what, like four blocks or something crazy like that, but then it goes back to, are we talking about just blocks? I don’t know how anything works anymore.”
“MVP I feel like I could be in the race. I think our skid when we had a stretch that we were really bad kind of knocked me down a little bit, but I can climb back up. It also has to do with a lot of individual performances at that time as well. All-Star, I think I’ll be an All-Star. I should be an All-Star. I think I’ll be an All-NBA player as well.”
According to Anthony Davis, Wembanyama’s shot-blocking prowess is driving the conversation, but defensive greatness encompasses much more than just one statistical category. Speaking in a recent interview, Davis didn’t hold back when discussing the growing buzz around Wembanyama’s candidacy for DPOY.
Davis highlighted the shift in how defensive impact is measured in today’s NBA. He reminisced about his early years in the league, when blocking shots was a key metric for DPOY candidates, something he excelled at multiple times but was never rewarded for.
This season, Davis is putting up impressive numbers, averaging 25.6 points, 11.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.2 blocks, and 1.3 steals per game. His versatility as a defender—capable of guarding all five positions and excelling in pick-and-roll defense—sets him apart. Davis is particularly adept at switching onto guards, disrupting passing lanes, and protecting the rim.
Wembanyama, on the other hand, has been a sensation in his second year, averaging 24.6 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.1 steals, and a league-leading 4.0 blocks per game. His height and wingspan allow him to alter shots at an elite level, making him a nightmare for opposing offenses. However, Davis argues that defensive impact goes beyond blocking shots, pointing to aspects like switching, positioning, and overall team defense.
Davis’s frustration isn’t just about Wembanyama—it’s about the broader criteria for the DPOY award. This critique sheds light on how the league’s narrative-driven approach can overlook players who excel in multiple areas of defense. Davis believes his versatility and impact on both ends of the court should have earned him at least one DPOY award by now.
Despite his frustrations, Davis says he has moved past chasing individual accolades, shifting his focus toward team success and a championship run with the Lakers. While Davis remains one of the NBA’s premier defenders, Wembanyama’s rise has captured the league’s imagination.
Whether the Spurs star claims the award or not, Davis’s comments spark a necessary discussion about how the NBA evaluates defensive greatness and whether narratives overshadow a player’s full body of work.
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