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2016-17 NBA Awards Season: Top 10 Defensive Player Of The Year Candidates

By Gerald Bourguet

Apr 10, 2017; Oakland, CA, USA; Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) passes the ball out against Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) during the first quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 10, 2017; Oakland, CA, USA; Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) passes the ball out against Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) during the first quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
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Defensive Player Of The Year
Feb 9, 2017; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) fights for position with Oklahoma City Thunder forward Andre Roberson (21) during the first quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

6. Andre Roberson

It’s too bad Andre Roberson can’t shoot worth a damn, because casual NBA fans would absolutely know his name otherwise. Unfortunately, all people ever see are his bricked, wide open jumpers, while completely ignoring his stellar, versatile defending on the other end.

When the Oklahoma City Thunder come up, so does Russell Westbrook, his MVP case and his historic triple-double season. But what should come up next is the fact that OKC earned its 47 wins by the power of its top-10 defense, rather than its 17th-ranked offense. In that respect, Roberson is far more important to the Thunder than people realize.

Roberson, who has never made an All-Defensive team but should earn his first honors this season, also averaged 1.2 steals and 1.0 blocks per game, making him one of eight players to average those numbers. The others? Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anthony Davis, Draymond Green, DeMarcus Cousins, Andre Drummond, Nerlens Noel and Robert Covington. Pretty elite company.

Roberson’s inability to shoot undoubtedly hampers OKC’s spacing and their offensive ceiling, but his defense makes him a far more vital part of this team than people understand.