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2015-16 HoopsHabit NBA Awards

By Maxwell Ogden

Apr 10, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry (30) is defended by San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker (9) and small forward Kawhi Leonard (2) during the second half at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 10, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry (30) is defended by San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker (9) and small forward Kawhi Leonard (2) during the second half at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 10, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard (2) high fives teammates after making the game winning basket to beat the Orlando Magic at Amway Center. San Antonio defeated Orlando 98-96. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 10, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard (2) high fives teammates after making the game winning basket to beat the Orlando Magic at Amway Center. San Antonio defeated Orlando 98-96. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Defensive Player of the Year: Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs

Votes: 59.7%

Position: Small Forward

Defensive FG%: 39.2

Opponent’s Average FG%: 44.9

Defensive Rating: 94.9

The San Antonio Spurs are No. 1 in the NBA in defensive efficiency, and by a rather wide margin. Only one other team is letting up less than 100 points per 100 possessions, the Atlanta Hawks, and even they are a healthy X.X points behind the Spurs.

The driving force behind the Spurs’ remarkable success on the defensive end of the floor has been Kawhi Leonard.

Leonard is widely regarded as the most dominant on-ball defender in the NBA. That’s easy to justify when one considers the fact that Leonard routinely defends the opposition’s best scorer, and still has a defensive field goal percentage of 39.2.

Leonard is also No. 1 in the NBA in defensive rating amongst players who averaged at least 30 minutes per game.

The statistics are impressive, but to truly understand Leonard’s defensive impact, one has to watch him play. Even when a player is able to record impressive statistics, no one makes opposing players work harder than San Antonio’s silent assassin.

Between his individual brilliance, and the level at which San Antonio has played as a team, Leonard was the clear choice for HoopsHabit’s Defensive Player of the Year award.

Others Receiving Votes: Hassan Whiteside (19.2 percent); Draymond Green (17.3 percent); Tim Duncan (3.8 percent)

Next: Most Valuable Player