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NBA: Top 10 Candidates For Defensive Player Of The Year Award In 2016-17

By Gerald Bourguet

November 21, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) shoots the basketball against Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) during the second quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
November 21, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) shoots the basketball against Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) during the second quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 26, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks center Dwight Howard (8) poses for photographs during Atlanta Hawks media day at The W Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /

10. Dwight Howard

A three-time Defensive Player of the Year, Dwight Howard winning his fourth award in his age-31 season would be a remarkable (read: unlikely) feat. But as the new defensive anchor of an Atlanta Hawks team the ranked second in defensive rating last year, D-12 might be a dark horse in this category.

Though he’s not as versatile a defender as Al Horford, Howard will help the Hawks on the glass. He averaged 11.8 rebounds per game last season (fourth in the NBA) and has averaged 12.7 rebounds per game for his career (14th all-time).

That alone makes him a tremendous asset to a Hawks team that ranked 28th in rebounding percentage (47.5 percent) and dead last in offensive rebounds (8.3 per game) last year, even if Horford was a better positional defender overall.

Unfortunately, Howard’s game largely depends on his athleticism, and he’s no longer the shot-blocking behemoth he once was (1.6 blocks per game last year). If the Hawks can maintain their elite defense, D-12 might conjure up some DPOY chatter, but playing alongside Paul Millsap might detract from his defensive value too.