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

Snubbed Defensive Player #15: Shawn Marion

Hall of Famer Shawn Marion is often remembered for his odd-looking jumper and quick-leaping ability, but defense was his bread and butter. At 6’7, Marion had the size to guard power forwards and undersized centers and the mobility to defend guards and wings.

In today’s game, that’s rare, but back in the 2000s and 2010s, it was almost unheard of.

Marion was drafted by the Phoenix Suns, and his career took off when the team brought back point guard Steve Nash. The “Seven Seconds or Less” Suns were an explosive offensive team, but defense was their clear weakness. He was tasked to be the team’s defensive stopper, and he did make a clear impact.

The 2005 Suns made it to the Western Conference Finals, and Marion was tasked with guarding Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, and Tim Duncan at various points in the series. He did an admirable job of defending three Hall of Famers in their primes. So why didn’t he win a DPOY?

The Nash Suns teams were often slightly below-average defenses in terms of defensive rating but were also usually near the bottom of the NBA in points allowed. Voters simply weren’t going to recognize a player on teams that technically gave up among the most points in the NBA, albeit because they played so much faster than everyone else.

He was also overshadowed by other players on this list during his prime years, so the stars never fully aligned for the Matrix. Still, people who watched him play know his defensive versatility was well ahead of its time.