NBA Defensive Player of the Year Ladder 3.0: Rudy Gobert, Kawhi Leonard breaking away

Anthony Davis of the Los Angeles Lakers remains fifth on the NBA Defensive Player of the Year ladder, holding his spot after averaging 1.9 blocks and 1.5 steals per game over the eight games he appeared in since Jan. 11.

Davis blocked five shots on an emotional night at Staples Center on Jan. 31, as the Lakers played their first game since the death of Kobe Bryant while losing to the Portland Trail Blazers 127-119. He also put together three blocks and three steals on Thursday night when the Lakers fell at home to the Houston Rockets.

He is currently third in the NBA, averaging 2.4 blocks per game and ranks 14th with 1.5 steals a night, as well.

Davis has the necessary credentials to win the award, having been named All-Defensive three times in his career as well as leading the NBA in blocks three times.

The only substantial drop off in his play from a defensive standpoint since being traded from the New Orleans Pelicans last summer is on the defensive boards, where he is grabbing 7.1 per game, well off the 8.9 he averaged last season. That fall is also reflected in his defensive rebounding rating, which is a career-low 21.9 percent this season.

Part of that can be attributed, however, to playing with a pair of strong rebounding centers in JaVale McGee and Dwight Howard. Aside from a season or so with DeMarcus Cousins, Davis never played alongside another particularly strong rebounder while he was in New Orleans.