Spurs’ Leonard wins Defensive Player of the Year award
The Spurs’ Kawhi Leonard was named the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year Award, the league announced Thursday.
He had 333 total points, including 37 first-place votes, from a panel of 129 sportswriters and broadcasters. The Warriors’ Draymond Green finished second with 45 first-place votes and 317 points. The Clippers’ DeAndre Jordan was third with 32 first-place votes and 261 points. Players were awarded five points for each first-place vote, three points for each second-place vote and one point for each third-place vote received. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution does not participate as a matter of newspaper policy.
Hawks forward DeMarre Carroll finished with one third-place vote from a reporter at the MSG Network.
Leonard is the sixth forward to lead the NBA in steals per game since the league started tracking the statistic 42 years ago.
About the Author
Chris Vivlamore is the sports editor at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He has served as reporter and editor at the AJC since 2003.
