Defensive Player of the Year: LeBron James
LeBron is typically thought of as one of the best players of all-time with the ball in his hands, yet his signature play has always been the chase down block on defense.
At one point in his career, LeBron James was arguably the best defender in all of basketball, because he could guard pretty much anyone in the NBA one on one regardless of position. He is also a five-time All-Defensive first team selection, so that should speak to his abilities on that end.
He has fallen off a bit from that pedestal the last few seasons, but that could have also been because Cleveland asked him to exert most of his energy on the offensive side of the ball. If he can be the anchor of Lakers defense and turn them into a top defensive team, it would be a dramatic improvement and that could earn him some respect from the voters.
Rumors this offseason have suggested that the Lakers are going to ask James to play some time at the center position next year and that is something he has hardly ever done throughout his career.
If he can successfully boost his block numbers as an interior rim protector and defend some of the bigger bodies in the league then that could warrant some defensive player of the year votes. The center spot has been the most popular position to win the award, so the more time he spends at that position the more likely he is to take home this award.
This was definitely the hardest category to pick a realistic option because Lonzo Ball was the team’s best defender statistically last year and the only point guard to ever win the award was Gary Payton, arguably the best defender ever at the position.
JaVale McGee could also be another option for this award if he can channel his inner Rudy Gobert as a shot blocker in the middle of the defense, but that is unlikely as well.
That is why LeBron is basically the choice by default because he has pretty much done everything else in his career. So why not this?