NBA Roundtable: Who Will Be This Year’s DPOY?

2 of 4

SAN ANTONIO, TX – MAY 9: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs looks on during the game against the Houston Rockets during Game Five of the Western Conference Semifinals of the 2017 NBA Playoffs on May 9, 2017 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photos by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Kawhi Leonard

“Leonard is the best wing defender in the game and could get this award every year. Rudy Gobert and Draymond Green will challenge him, but I believe the Spurs will once again be one of the top 4-5 teams in the West behind a less than stellar supporting cast around Leonard.” –Isaac Harris

“Kawhi Leonard is still the league’s best all-around defender. While Draymond Green may get more attention with his personal defensive ability, the Spurs forward is still the most athletic and fundamentally sound defender in the league.

The Spurs defensive scheme is second to none in the NBA and enables Leonard to make the most impact of any player in the league on that end of the floor. The Spurs will need every bit of his defensive ability all season long.” –Evan Siegel

“It is one thing to be the best wing defender in the NBA. It is an entirely different thing to be a top 5 player in the NBA in general, while still being the best wing defender. Kawhi Leonard is consistently praised and for very good reason. I believe this is the year that Leonard takes home a lot of hardware, despite struggling to get past the 2nd round of the playoffs. Leonard deserves every ounce of recognition that he is going to get this year.” –Kohl Rast

Next: The Stifle Tower