Defensive Player of the Year: Joel Embiid
Earning a spot on the NBA’s All-Defensive Second Team last year, Joel Embiid could make the leap to the league’s best overall defender in 2018-19.
He has almost effortlessly become one of the most intimidating forces in the NBA with his large defensive frame. He averages 2.0 blocks per game for his career.
The 24-year-old big gets the job done on both ends of the court, but his defense is the true attention-grabber when he is at full strength. The Sixers’ third-ranked defense was a full 4.3 points per 100 possessions stingier when he was on the court last year.
His defensive ceiling is worthy enough to make an educated prediction that he could win the Defensive Player of the Year award multiple times over the course of his career.