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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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May 4, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) drives into Atlanta Hawks forward Paul Millsap (4) during the second quarter in game two of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

9. Paul Millsap

Like Dwight Howard, Paul Millsap’s defensive value and versatility might be overlooked playing alongside another strong interior defender in the starting frontcourt. However, Millsap’s highly underrated defense was not overlooked by All-Defensive Team voters last season, as the 10-year veteran earned Second Team honors and finished fifth in DPOY voting.

As quite possibly the best and most versatile defender on the Atlanta Hawks‘ second rated defense last year, Millsap can swarm pick-and-rolls on the perimeter, rack up steals at an elite rate for a big man and still adequately defend the rim.

Last season, Millsap led the league in defensive win shares (6.0). He also averaged 1.8 steals and 1.7 blocks per game, making him the only player in the league to average such numbers. His ability to guard virtually any position on the floor makes him a taller, albeit less imposing, version of Draymond Green for Atlanta.

Millsap hardly ever gets the credit he deserves on either end of the floor, and with Howard joining the mix, that will likely be the case again in 2016-17, even if the Hawks’ defense remains elite. Millsap won’t win the award, but in terms of merit, he’ll probably deserve a top-five spot in the voting once again.