Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is arguably the frontrunner for the 2024-25 NBA MVP after leading the OKC Thunder to the best record in the NBA while averaging over 30 points. The team is also easily the best defensive team in the NBA this season, making some of their players realistic contenders for DPOY after presumed winner Victor Wembanyama failed to meet the minimum games played requirement.
On ESPN’s NBA Today, Kendrick Perkins vouched for Shai as a contender for DPOY. Miami Heat legend Udonis Haslem was not having it, striking down Perkins’ suggestions just as fervently as Perkins brought them up.
Kendrick Perkins: “Why isn’t [Shai Gilgeous-Alexander] in the Defensive Player of the Year conversation? He’s top-20 in opponents’ FG% and his blocked shots at his position, he’s top five. He’s No. 2 in steals. Their team leads the league in every defensive category. Why is he not in the conversation?”
Udonis Haslem: “It’s because he’s guarding the weakest defender on the other team. He’s got the weakest offensive player on the other team. We know what they do with superstars, they hide the superstars. He’s probably guarding the guy who’ll shoot five shots, he’s playing off the ball, and he can shoot the passing lane for steals. We’re not giving SGA no damn Defensive Player of the Year.”
“Why isn’t [Shai Gilgeous-Alexander] in the Defensive Player of the Year conversation?”—@KendrickPerkins 👀
“It’s because he’s guarding the weakest defender on the other team.”—@ThisIsUD 😮 pic.twitter.com/XCSEhxoA3R
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) March 19, 2025
Udonis Haslem nailed it. Shai is often praised as one of the elite guard defenders in the NBA due to his big steal numbers, but it’s a product of the defensive style the Thunder play.
Jalen Williams is usually the POA defender on star forwards while Lu Dort handles the same responsibility for star guards. Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein create the defensive backbone, with their perimeter defenders funneling opponents to them.
Shai is a good defender and makes active efforts on that end. But with his offensive responsibility, we simply don’t see him challenged on the defensive end as much as his load-bearing teammates. Shai’s defensive responsibilities are the lowest in the OKC starting five, which makes perfect sense because his offensive load is incredible.
Dort, Williams, and Holmgren are unquestionably stronger defenders than Shai, who plays a style that allows him to gamble for steals and attack passing lanes knowing he has tremendous defensive cover around him.
He’s still executing at a high level, but it’s very disingenuous to even float his name as the DPOY when the OKC Thunder staff and role-players are carrying the team to success on that end.
Shai is averaging 33.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 6.2 assists this season. He’s a worthy scoring champion and a worthy MVP, but to place him in the same ranks as the best defenders of this season would be incredibly unfair.
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