NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award ‘Biased,’ Says Former Champion…….

The NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year award is, by definition, given to the top defensive player throughout the regular season.

According to former Miami Heat player Shane Battier, there is a tremendous prejudice against rim defenders, which advantages guys such as Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren.

Battier argued on the May 21 episode of “The OGs” for the Heat’s Bam Adebayo, who finished third in the DPOY vote, that Adebayo’s defense cannot be evaluated by showy stats like blocks or thefts.

“There’s a bias toward guys who are bone-up defenders,” said Battier, who played from 2001 to 2014 and won championships with the Heat in 2012 and 2013.

“The perception now with the league and the way the regulations are is different than when we played, but people don’t get credit for being able to bone up because: a) you can’t be that physical anymore, right?

“So, if you say, ‘Well, he’s a one-on-one defender,’ you can’t stop anyone anymore. You can slow folks down, correct?” He said.

“So, you don’t get credit, and so that’s why people don’t credit Bam, which I think [they] should because he can literally switch and guard anybody and do a good job, which not a lot of guys can do in these rules, where you can’t be physical.”

On Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller’s show, “The OGs,” Battier discussed Bam Adebayo’s defense, his lack of attention in the Defensive Player of the Year contest, and how he doesn’t receive more recognition since his defense cannot be quantified with spectacular defensive stats like blocks or thefts.

Battier and Haslem ultimately decided Wembanyama earned the award, but Miller supported Gobert.

Finally, Battier and co-host Udonis Haslem agreed that Wembanyama, the San Antonio Spurs rookie, deserved to win the prize.

While co-host Mike Miller stated that the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Rudy Gobert was the deserving winner this year.

So, I give Bam all the credit in the world for being able to do what he does without allowing him to fully utilize his strength and speed. But we can see Wemby, Chet, and all of the shot blockers. Well, they’re impacting shots, which is excellent defense. So it’s a question of perception.