Emerging Australian talent Dyson Daniels has been overlooked for the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) accolade, a move that many critics are calling “ridiculous.”
During a TNT broadcast on Friday morning, Cleveland’s Evan Mobley was declared the DPOY, with the 22-year-old Daniels taking home the runner-up spot.
The guard for the Atlanta Hawks now holds the record for being the youngest player in NBA history to finish as a runner-up for the award.
This season, Daniels registered 229 steals, the highest total in the league since Gary Payton notched 231 for the Seattle SuperSonics in the 1995-96 season.
Notably, Daniels became the first player to average over 3.00 steals per game since Robertson did so for the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1990-91 season. Notable former players Nate McMillan and John Stockton averaged 2.959 and 2.976 steals per game, respectively, in the 1993-94 and 1991-92 seasons.
Thirteen NBA coaches voted him as the league’s best defensive player this season, yet he ultimately lost out to Mobley among the 100-member media panel that casts votes for the official award.
Dyson Daniels of the Atlanta Hawks celebrates a victory with Onyeka Okongwu. Getty
Citing Daniels’ skills, Hawks coach Quin Snyder commented last month, “In my opinion, he’s definitely the defensive player of the year. His contributions, even on the offensive end with numerous double-doubles, are significant. The discourse should also highlight his character, which directly correlates with his actions on the court.”
Given that Daniels, Green, and Mobley were all finalists, it’s plausible that they will be recognised in the NBA’s All-Defensive team announced later this spring. This would mark Green’s ninth selection, Mobley’s second, and Daniels’ inaugural inclusion.
Mobley expressed that his primary target for the season with the Cleveland Cavaliers was to secure the NBA Defensive Player of the Year title – and he accomplished just that.
The Cavaliers see Mobley as their leading defensive asset, a sentiment echoed across the league.
“It feels fantastic to finally earn this award,” Mobley shared, noting that his win at age 23 places him among the youngest to receive the accolade, alongside luminaries like Dwight Howard and Kawhi Leonard.
This season not only saw Mobley becoming an All-Star but also achieving a personal best in scoring.
“I was working all year to improve my offensive output while maintaining my defensive integrity,” Mobley remarked, suggesting that his performance underscored this dual focus.
Coach Kenny Atkinson highlighted the stark contrast in the Cavaliers’ defensive stats with and without Mobley on the floor, indicating the significant impact he has on their defence.
“There’s a drop in our performance that is unmistakable,” Atkinson noted. “That statistic is crucial for me.”
The race for the DPOY was hotly contested, with seven players receiving at least one top vote and Mobley securing the highest placement on just 35 per cent of ballots. However, he was deemed a top three player on a remarkable 85 per cent of ballots, far exceeding his competition.
Green, who previously won the award in 2017, finished among the top three for the fifth time, attempting to become the 11th player in NBA history to win it multiple times. Meanwhile, Mobley celebrated his first victory, after having finished third in 2023.
In the final tally, Daniels took second place in voting, with Green coming in third.
Daniels received 25 first-place votes, while Green secured 15. Oklahoma City’s Lu Dort earned 11 votes for fourth place, Houston’s Amen Thompson finished fifth with nine, and Ivica Zubac of the Los Angeles Clippers rounded out the top six with four first-place votes.
– contributed by AP
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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