While this outcome may have been expected when even the talents of Kyle Lowry and Pascal Siakam were unable to salvage this season, the Toronto Raptors were shut out of NBA Awards voting. Even the great OG Anunoby was unable to end up taking home any sort of trophy.
While Chris Boucher did get some consideration for Sixth Man of the Year, Anunoby might’ve had a realistic chance at getting honored for his defense, as a 6-8 forward with the versatility to guard all five positions has all of the tools needed to be honored like this. Unfortunately, the media turned a blind eye to his accomplishments this season.
Not only did Anunoby and point guard Fred VanVleet receive just three second-team All-Defense votes this year, but players like Alex Caruso and Matisse Thybulle ended up getting more consideration for the first team.
Raptors fans have every right to be ticked off with the fact that Toronto was once again not given the proper respect by the national media, at least at face value. Unfortunately, Anunoby’s lack of time on the court, a side effect of the season from hell in Tampa, ruined his chance at making this team.
No Raptors on NBA all-defensive teams. OG Anunoby and Fred VanVleet each got three second team votes. OG absolutely belongs, but games played hurt him. Fred was great defensively too and, full disclosure, I gave him one of the votes. His nightly work was outstanding.
— Ryan Wolstat (@WolstatSun) June 14, 2021
Toronto Raptors stud OG Anunoby needed more game time.
Anunoby played in just 43 games, just over half of the season. Ultimately, that lack of game time on a team that struggled to stay in the playoff picture is what did it in. If it was based purely on his skill on that end, the Raptors star should have at least ended up on the second team, with his versatility serving as a key selling point.
Anunoby guarded every position for at least 15% of his time on the floor, but didn’t stick in any one spot for more than 30%. That uncommon versatility will hopefully be more on display for the media and the general NBA population if the Raptors return to their winning ways in Canada next year.
Cleaning the Glass (subscription required) showed that the Raptors allowed 5.1 few points per 100 possessions with Anunoby on the floor, which ranks in the 88th percentile among forwards. He may not have the gaudy traditional stats voters like, but his value is evident upon even a cursory examination of his tape.
Anunoby was clearly a top defensive player on merit alone, but the combination of his limited playing time, the Raptors’ steep decline, and the media like discarding them as soon as the dam really broke all contributed to Anunoby not getting tons of votes. In a full 82-game season with the benefit of Toronto, OG should get more respect from the voters.