Today, the NBA officially announced the latest defensive player of the year list. The Philadelphia 76ers' Ben Simmons is on the list and ranked first.
You should know that Simmons's basic data this season is not good, averaging only 1.6 steals and 0.7 blocks per game, shooting as low as 28.6% from three-pointers and making 3.4 turnovers. Behind Simmons are Gobert, Miles-Turner, Embiid and James. Why does Simmons rank first?
Because Simmons' defensive performance is not reflected by the basic data.
Simmons defended Mitchell in a match against the Utah Jazz on March 4th. He performed bravely, allowing his opponent to make only 12 of 34 shots and scored 33 points but disrupted the rhythm of the Jazz. Defeating the Dallas Mavericks on February 26, Simmons defended Doncic into 6 of 13 shots and only scored 19 points.
Obviously, Simmons is 208 cm tall and can defend from position 1 to position 5. It is a nightmare for all guards in the league. With skill, height and defensive willingness, Simmons can complete any defensive task, making every scoring player feel painful.
After defeating the Mavericks, Simmons was very confident and said that he was the most comprehensive defender in the league. Simmons' coach Rivers also praised his lover without hesitation: "If Simmons does not win the DPOY (Defensive Player of the Year Award) this season, I will not canvass for anyone."
Maybe The 76ers this season ultimately failed to win the NBA championship, but at least they may have gained in terms of individual awards: Simmons won the best defensive player, and Embiid became the regular season MVP.
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