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

Snubbed Defensive Player #16: Tony Allen

Defensive ace Tony Allen spent most of his career playing for the Memphis Grizzlies and was instrumental in helping the team find its identity. Nicknamed the Grindfather, Allen’s toughness as a defender and hustle made him a key part of the Grizzlies’ success. Despite only being 6’4, Allen would often be tasked with guarding wings bigger than him, and he relentlessly hassled them.

So, why did Allen never win DPOY if he was such a good defender? Ironically, part of the reason was his offense—or lack thereof. Allen was a shaky offensive player who struggled to space the floor and even finish shots in the paint. That left a Memphis team that often struggled to score efficiently, to limit Allen’s minutes in favor of getting more shooting on the floor.

His best defensive season saw him average a stellar 2.0 steals, but he only averaged 26.2 minutes per game despite being a starter due to his offensive issues. Perhaps if he had played at least 30 minutes per game, he might’ve had a stronger case, though he may have still lost to the eventual winner, Kawhi Leonard, who led the NBA in steals.

Even without a DPOY award, Allen is remembered as a great defender, having been named to three NBA All-Defensive First Team and three NBA All-Defensive Second Team squads while with the Grizzlies.