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Awards = HOF? Part Twenty: The NBA Defensive Player of the Year

Awards = HOF?  Part Twenty: The NBA Defensive Player of the Year
27 Jun
2016
Not in Hall of Fame
We here at Notinhalloffame.com thought it would be fun to take a look at the major awards in North American team sports and see how it translates into Hall of Fame potential.

Needless to say, different awards in different sports yield hall of fame potential.  In basketball, the team sport with the least amount of players on a roster, the dividend for greatness much higher.  In baseball, it is not as much as a great individual season does not have the same impact.

We are taking a look at the NBA Defensive Player of the Year, which if you ask us is the most undervalued award in all of professional sports.

How will this one turn out?

Let’s take a look!



The following are the past players who have won NBA Defensive Player of the Year who are eligible for the Basketball Hall of Fame and have been enshrined.



Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls (1988)

Yeah, that guy.  It is almost forgotten just how food MJ was defensively too.  This year, Jordan would lead the NBA in Steals per Game and would also earn his first league MVP.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009.

Dennis Rodman, Detroit Pistons (1990)

This would be the first of two Dennis Rodman’s All Star seasons.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011.

Dennis Rodman, Detroit Pistons (2) (1991)

“The Worm” enjoyed his first double digit rebounding season.  Rodman would lead in that category the next seven years.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011.

David Robinson, San Antonio Spurs (1992)

The “Admiral” led the NBA with a sick 4.5 Blocks per Game and 12.2 Rebounds per Game average.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009.

Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets (1993)

Olajuwon won the Blocks Title and posted 13 Rebounds per Game.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2008.

Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets (2) (1994)

This year, Olajuwon won the NBA Title and the Finals MVP.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2008.

Dikembe Mutombo, Denver Nuggets (1995)

Start the finger wagging.  Mutombo led the NBA in Blocks per Game and had 12.5 Rebounds per Game.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015.

Gary Payton, Seattle Super Sonics (1996)

The “Glove” is to date the only Point Guard to ever win this award.  Payton would win the Steals title this season and was perennially a top five fixture in this category.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015.

Dikembe Mutombo, Atlanta Hawks (2) (1997)

Mutombo would put up 3.3 Blocks and 11.6 Rebounds per Game this season.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2013.

Dikembe Mutombo, Atlanta Hawks (3) (1998)

Mutombo would put up 3.4 Blocks and 11.4 Rebounds per Game this season.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015.

Alonzo Mourning, Miami Heat (1999)

Mourning led the National Basketball Association in Blocks per Game and put up his best Rebounding Totals with 11 per Game.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2014.

Alonzo Mourning, Miami Heat (2) (2000)

Mourning would again lead the NBA in Blocks per Game and still have a healthy rebounding average of 9.5 per Game.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2014.

Dikembe Mutombo, Atlanta Hawks/Philadelphia 76ers (4) (2001)

Mutombo win his second of two rebounding titles.  Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015.



The following are the players who have won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year who are eligible for the Basketball Hall of Fame and have not been selected:



Sidney Moncrief, Miwaukee Bucks (1983)

Shooting Guard, Sidney Moncrief enjoyed his second All Star game and also enjoyed his best offensive season of his career with a 22.5 PPG and a career high PER of 22.6.  Ranked #2 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Sidney Moncrief, Miwaukee Bucks (2) (1984)

This would be Moncrief’s third All Star season and this would be the best rebounding year of his NBA career with a 6.7 RPG.  Ranked #2 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Mark Eaton, Utah Jazz (1985)

Mark Eaton would lead the NBA in Blocks per Game four times, and yes this was one of those seasons.  This year, Eaton would tally 11.3 Rebounds per Game, the best of his career.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Alvin Robertson, San Antonio Spurs (1986)

In Robertson’s sophomore season, the Shooting Guard would lwad the NBA in Steals and Steals per Game.  Robertson would win the Steals title two more times in his career.  Ranked #54 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Michael Cooper, Los Angeles Lakers (1987)

“Showtime” Michael Cooper never made an All Star Game but has five NBA Championship Rings and five First Team All Defensive Selections.  Ranked #51 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Mark Eaton, Utah Jazz (2) (1989)

This would be Eaton’s lone All Star season.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Ben Wallace, Detroit Pistons (2002)

“Big” Ben Wallace would win the Blocks and Rebounding Title this year.  Ranked #6 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Ben Wallace, Detroit Pistons (2) (2003)

Wallace would again win the Rebounding Title, this time with his highest total of 15.4.  This would be his first season named to an All Star.  Ranked #6 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Ben Wallace, Detroit Pistons (3) (2005)

This would be Wallace’s third All Star Season and he would post 2.4 Blocks and 12.2 Rebounds per Game.  Ranked #6 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Ben Wallace, Detroit Pistons (4) (2006)

This would be Wallace’s fourth and final All Star Season and he would post 2.2 Blocks and 11.3 Rebounds per Game.  Ranked #6 on Notinhalloffame.com.



Let’s update our tally shall we?



Award in Question

Percentage of recipients who have entered the HOF

Percentage of recipients by year who have entered the HOF.

NBA MVP

100%

100%

NHL Norris

90.5%

96.4%

NBA All Star Game MVP

89.5%

91.7%

NHL Lady Byng

63.8%

76.0%

NFL Super Bowl MVP

60.6%

64.9%

NBA Defensive Player of the Year

58.3%

56.5%

NBA Rookie of the Year

56.5%

56.5%

NHL Frank J. Selke Trophy

33.3%

36.7%

NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year

28.6%

28.6%

MLB Edgar Martinez Award

26.7%

17.2%

MLB (NL/AL) Silver Slugger (Designated Hitter)

25.0%

30.8%

MLB (NL/AL) Silver Slugger (Shortstop)

23.5%

52.6%

NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year

20.6%

20.6%

MLB (NL/AL) Silver Slugger (Catcher)

20.0%

22.5%

MLB (NL/AL) Silver Slugger (Pitcher)

18.2%

20.1%

MLB (NL/AL) Silver Slugger (Second Base)

16.7%

32.7%

MLB (NL/AL) Silver Slugger (Outfield)

15.7%

25.2%

MLB (NL/AL) Silver Slugger (Third Base)

13.6%

14.3%

MLB (NL/AL) Silver Slugger (First Base)

13.6%

13.3%

MLB (NL/AL) Rookie of the Year

13.3%

13.3%





So who is up next?



The following are the players who have won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year who have retired but have not met the mandatory years out of the game to qualify for the Basketball Hall of Fame:


Marcus Camby, Denver Nuggets (2007)

While Marcus Camby was never an All-Star, he was always sought out by NBA teams to shore up their defense.  In this Defensive Player of the Year winning season, he won his third of four Blocking Titles.  Camby will be eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2018.



The following are the players who have won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year who are still active.



Metta World Peace (Ron Artest), Indiana Pacers (2004)

That season, the former Ron Artest went to his only All Star Game, however the controversial figure is not pegged as a future Hall of Famer.  Currently with the Los Angeles Lakers.  36 Years Old.   

Marcus Camby, Indiana Pacers (2007)

That season, the former Ron Artest went to his only All Star Game, however the controversial figure is not pegged as a future Hall of Famer.  Currently with the Los Angeles Lakers.  36 Years Old.   

Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic (2009)

Dwight Howard would win the Blocks and Rebounding title this season, the third of which he was named an All Star.  Currently with the Houston Rockets.  30 Years Old.   

Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic (2) (2010)

“Superman” would duplicate that sick feat, again winning both the Rebounding and Blocks title.  Currently with the Houston Rockets.  30 Years Old.   

Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic (3) (2011)

Howard didn’t win either title this year, but still put up a 14.1 Rebound and 2.4 Blocks per Game Average.  Currently with the Houston Rockets.  31 Years Old.   

Tyson Chandler, New York Knicks (2012)

The year after he won the NBA Championship with the Dallas Mavericks, Tyson Chandler would win his only individual award in the NBA.  Currently with the Phoenix Suns.  34 Years Old.   

Marc Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies (2013)

The brother of Pau Gasol went to two All Star Games, but this wasn’t one of those seasons.  Gasol had 1.7 Blocks, 1.0 Steals and 7.8 Rebounds per Game.  Currently with the Memphis Grizzlies.  31 Years Old.   

Joakim Noah, Chicago Bulls (2014)

This would be Noah’s best rebounding season in which he posted 11.3 per game.  It is notable that this was also his best offensive output with 12.6 Points per Game. Currently with the Chicago Bulls.  31 Years Old.   

Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs (2015)

Leonard would win the Steals Title this season. Currently with the San Antonio Spurs.  25 Years Old.   

Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs (2015)

This would be Leonard’s first All Star Season. Currently with the San Antonio Spurs.  25 Years Old.   





This award had it all didn’t it?

From the G.O.A.T. (Jordan) to a two time winner you forgot about (Eaton).

Based on the winners from he past ten years there is no reason to think that this will be a changing pattern, though with the recent winners, it appears that we are headed for a bit of a drought for Springfield.

So what will we look at next?

We will go back to Baseball and one of the most coveted awards in sports, the Cy Young Award.

Look for that soon and as always we thank you for your support!
Last modified on Monday, 21 November 2016 18:29
Committee Chairman

Kirk Buchner, "The Committee Chairman", is the owner and operator of the site.  Kirk can be contacted at [email protected] .

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