1st Place
Kawhi Leonard (73)
| Minutes | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Steals | Blocks | FG% | TS% |
| 33.4 | 25.5 | 5.8 | 3.5 | 1.8 | 0.7 | 48.5% | 61.1% |
Leonard may not have the advanced statistics to claim this spot but he passes the eye test better than anyone. Kawhi might be the perfect example of why defensive advanced statistics are borderline unnecessary. Kawhi is relentless defensively. His length and quickness allows him to fill passing lanes, take calculated risks on close outs, and guard 1-4 at an elite-level as well as the occasional center if need be.
This award as well as the All-Defensive Team accolades are more about reputation than anything else. The reputation of being a defensive player is built over years of consistency and that is exactly what Kawhi has done. This will be Leonard’s third straight Defensive Player of the Year Award which put him in the category of Dwight Howard, Ben Wallace, and Dikembe Mutombo as the only players in NBA history with three or more defensive player of the year awards.
What stands out to voters this year is the brilliance of Leonard’s defense with huge increases in responsibility. Not only does Leonard have to guard the best opposing wing player every possession but he the #1 option offensively. No other candidate has so much demanded of him by their team and for that he becomes the run away candidate.