Ranking the top 6 candidates for Defensive Player of the Year
By Elaine Blum
4. O.G. Anunoby
O.G. Anunoby makes stealing the ball look easy – almost too easy, as he can pickpocket anyone and show no emotion while he does so. Anunoby is unquestionably the best thief in the league, leading all players in steals per game and total deflections. He has proven himself to be a defensive gem for the Raptors and became the first player in franchise history with three straight games in which he recorded at least five steals. Over the last ten years, only Russell Westbrook and Robert Covington have done the same.
Most importantly though, his steals generate transition offense and easy points, which compensates a little for the Raptors’ occasional struggles in the half-court offense. Anunoby does not have to gamble for steals, though, or make reckless plays. It is almost as if he senses where the ball with go next, no matter whether he is guarding the ball itself or is on help defense.
Anunoby is a great on-ball defender who held Kevin Durant to only 33.3 percent shooting on field goals and 18.2 percent from three over 114 partial possessions. James Harden fared equally badly when taking on Anunoby, shooting 3-10 from the field and 0-6 from three over 68.6 partial possessions. Off the ball, Anunoby might be even scarier, though. He moves around the court so quickly and ball handlers can never feel safe even if he is not their primary defender until they see him sitting on the bench.
In the latest Defensive Player of the Year ladder, Anunoby ranked second and is making as strong a case as pretty much anyone for the award and will hopefully see his first All-Defensive selection of his young career.