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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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Apr 3, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6) blocks a shot by Washington Wizards forward Markieff Morris (5) in the second half of the game at Staples Center. Clippers won 114-109. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

7. DeAndre Jordan

For like the millionth time, DeAndre Jordan is no Bill Russell. But he’s gotten a lot better on the defensive end, finished second in the NBA in both rebounds and blocks last year with 13.8 and 2.3 per game, respectively, and earned NBA All-Defensive First Team honors in the process.

The Los Angeles Clippers have never been known for their defense, with a high-powered offense almost always taking center stage. But if Lob City wants to seriously contend for a title, they may need to be even better than the league’s seventh ranked defense, which they were last year.

Having a healthy Blake Griffin will obviously help the Clippers be their best selves, but on the defensive end, the onus will once again fall on Chris Paul, J.J. Redick and DeAndre Jordan.

Jordan and the Clippers will probably never be elite enough defensively to stir up and real Defensive Player of the Year chatter, but it’s worth noting that D.J. is now one of the premier defenders at the center position in the NBA.