21 players the NBA repeatedly snubbed for Defensive Player of the Year

Snubbed Defensive Player #12: Andrei Kirilenko

Aside from having quite possibly the coolest nickname of the 2000s, AK-47, Andrei Kirilenko was known for his unique defensive ability. At 6’9, Kirilenko could do it all on the defensive end, including shutting down the opposing team’s primary ball handler, defending off-ball, or even protecting the basket.

That’s evident by his racking up an amazing number of stocks over the course of his career. In fact, he is only one of 18 players who have ever averaged at least 3.2 stocks per game, putting him in the same company as Mutombo, Michael Jordan, and Wallace, who combined to win 8 DPOY awards.

During his prime, he was selected to the NBA All-Defensive First Team in 2006 and two All-Defensive Second Teams in 2004 and 2006, not to mention he led the league in blocks in 2005. Unfortunately for Kirilenko, the era he played in had a slew of other great defenders, and despite those accolades, he never quite stood out enough to win DPOY consideration.

Much like Marion, Kirilenko could have made a similar defensive impact in today’s game, which is a testament to how ahead of his time he was as a defender.