The Toronto Raptors have hit the skids in recent weeks due to injuries impacting Pascal Siakam and Precious Achiuwa. The play of O.G. Anunoby on both ends of the floor is one of the main reasons that Toronto has not careened off the side of the proverbial highway without No. 43 in the lineup.
On top of being an amazing on-ball defender and one of the few players in the league who can guard all five positions earnestly, Anunoby is averaging right around three steals per game. If he can stay over that mark, he will be the first player in over 30 years to average that many steals per contest.
An All-Defensive nomination is finally going to come Anunoby’s way if he can stay healthy, but the Indiana product has bigger plans for himself. He believes that he is the best defensive player in the NBA, and O.G. may indeed be honored as such when it comes time to vote on awards.
Anunoby’s DPOY campaign is already well underway in Canada, but the momentum will continue to spread outside of the country if the Raptors are able to keep winning. Anunoby should be at or near the top of every Defensive Player of the Year list.
NBA Defensive Player of the Year Ladder: Is O.G. Anunoby at the top?
6. Herb Jones, New Orleans Pelicans
Much like Christian Koloko this year, Jones was able to assert himself as a starter right away in New Orleans despite his second-round status. He’s become an undroppable player in that timeframe, showing the same positional versatility that made him a valued presence at Alabama.
1.3 steals and 0.6 blocks per game don’t do justice to Jones and what New Orleans is asking him to do. Jones may not blow up social media, but there may not be a more consistent defensive player in the Western Conference. Anunoby has to consider him a legitimate contender he needs to fend off.
Toronto Raptors: O.G. Anunoby and Mikal Bridges are playing well.
5. Mikal Bridges, Phoenix Suns
Bridges and Anunoby are often considered similar players, as they are wing stoppers who supplement their nonstop hustle with solid 3-point shooting. As long as Phoenix keeps winning, the media will be all-in on bridges and his feisty turnover generation on the perimeter.
Bridges plays every day, ranks very high on the deflections list, and has legitimate multi-position versatility. Considering how team success often plays a role in the voters deciding who ends up winning, Bridges helping the Suns steamroll the West would be a nice feather in his cap.
4. Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat
Adebayo may have let Precious Achiuwa beat him up on the glass when the two parties did battle earlier in the season, but he is still one of the game’s best defensive big men. The Heat have some offensive deficiencies, yet they continue to pull out wins because of what Bam can do on the court.
The Heat remain a much better defensive team when he’s on the floor, as even the mighty Pascal Siakam has had issues trying to wiggle free and create when Bam is on the floor. Adebayo has a strong reputation, and that could be tough for a player like O.G. to shake in the eyes of voters.
Toronto Raptors: O.G. Anunoby is slightly above Marcus Smart.
3. Marcus Smart, Boston Celtics
Smart will likely end up on the All-Defensive team again, as his lack of amazing counting stats is overshadowed by the fact that he is consistently winning matchups against some of the best guards in the Eastern Conference. Boston’s defense has been lethal again this year despite the loss of Robert Williams.
Smart’s Defensive Player of the Year win last year may have surprised someone, but his play this year has shown that, at the very least, he’ll be an All-Defensive team regular. Boston’s strong team defense, anchored on the perimeter by Smart, will boost his case.
2. O.G. Anunoby, Toronto Raptors
Anunoby is the defensive lynchpin of a team that has leaned into a very unique identity on that end of the floor. After missing out on the All-Defensive for years due to a lack of hype and injury problems, Anunoby has shown the full extent of what he can do in this campaign.
Anunoby has the steals that will help woo the uninformed voter that hasn’t seen as many Raptors games, and his on-ball wizardry will help sway the film grinders over to his side of the aisle. Toronto will need to keep their overall defensive ranks high for ANunoby’s campaign to truly blossom.
Toronto Raptors: Can O.G. Anunoby beat out Giannis Antetokounmpo?
1. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
While Luka Doncic is likely going to give him a hell of a run, Antetokounmpo has a great shot at winning his third MVP in five seasons. Adding another DPOY to his mantlepiece isn’t crazy either, as he has been carrying the Bucks during their hot start without Khris Middleton.
The Bucks rank at or near the top of basically every defensive statistic, and the 6-11 super freak who remains the dictionary definition of a positionless defender is the main reason why. If Anunoby loses this award to Giannis, it will be no fault of his.