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

Snubbed Defensive Player #9: Bruce Bowen

If you watched NBA basketball in the mid-2000s and your team had a high-scoring guard or wing, odds are Bruce Bowen guarded them and shut them down at some point during his time with the San Antonio Spurs. Bowen was an undrafted journeyman when he joined the Spurs in 2001, but he carved out a role as a defensive pit bull and corner 3-point shooter on three championship teams.

Bowen’s size at 6’7 and his physical, irritating style of defense often made it hard to shake him. In fact, he was known for using his hands as well as dirty tactics to get under his opponent’s skin, such as sliding a foot out when his opponent attempted a jumper in his face. During the Spurs’ many deep playoff runs, he guarded the likes of Allen Iverson, Carmelo Anthony, Steve Nash, LeBron James, Rip Hamilton, Kobe Bryant, and Ray Allen.

His defense helped keep them in check while the Spurs’ big three did work on the offensive end. The fact that he never won Defensive Player of the Year is surprising but could be explained by him never putting up big blocks or steals numbers and playing alongside Duncan, who was an all-time defender in his own right. Even then, he was certainly worthy of the honor.