Derrick White got some respect when it comes to being one of the best defenders in the league. While the Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama became the first player ever to win the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year award unanimously, White also earned some votes.
The NBA released the results for the award Monday from the 100 voters. White finished as the highest-ranked guard at sixth overall, getting two second-place votes and seven third-place votes for 13 points.
Wembanyama finished with all 100 first-place votes for 500 points. It then went the Thunder’s Chet Holmgren at second with 76 second-place votes and 11 third-place votes for 239 points. The Pistons’ Ausar Thompson was third with 60 points, the Timberwolves’ Rudy Gobert was fourth with 41 points and the Raptors’ Scottie Barnes was fifth with 21 points.
Wembanyama was the runaway favorite, guiding the No. 2-seeded Spurs to a breakout season. His impact on the defensive end is evident whenever he plays, using his 7-foot-4 frame to create problems for the opposition.
Guards usually don’t get too much love for the Defensive Player of the Year award with big men getting a lot of love. But Celtics fans will remember Marcus Smart was named the 2021-22 Defensive Player of the Year, becoming the first guard to win the award since Gary Payton did so in for the 1995-96 season.
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White is one of the best defenders in the league. While he’s not the biggest player at 6-foot-4, his defensive instincts are off the charts. He’s been the best shot-blocking guard in the league for years, averaging 1.3 blocks per game. White is a huge piece of the Celtics puzzle even though he had a down year shooting the ball.
White has been named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team two times in his career. He should have a good chance to get that accolade once again with a shot at the first team.
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