– Be DPOY
While we just talked about how great of an offensive player Anthony Davis is, he is arguably even better on the defensive side of the ball. The Lakers were one of the worst defenses in the NBA last season, but with the addition of Davis along with a few others, Frank Vogel has turned them into one of the best defensive teams in the league.
So far this season, Davis is averaging 2.4 blocks and 1.4 steals per game. In the NBA, Davis is ranked 4th in defensive rating behind Giannis Antetokounmpo, Brook Lopez, and Donte DiVincenzo.
With Davis being in the Top-20 in steals per game, the Top-3 in blocks per game, and the Top-5 in defensive rating, he could potentially be the Defensive Player of the Year. Giannis is also having a great season defensively, so it could come down to two of the best players on two of the best defensive teams in the league.
What has certainly helped Davis make a case for the award is his clutch plays on the defensive end late in games. Making big blocks to help get wins certainly improves the chances of getting early recognition come award season.