Big guys have dominated the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year award for years. Ultimately, the honor bears the name of Hakeem Olajuwon, one of the greatest big players in league history and the all-time leader in blocked shots.

There are a number of big men in the game today who have an effect on the floor defense. Rudy Gobert had earned this award three times with the Utah Jazz prior to joining the Minnesota Timberwolves last season because of his ability to guard the rim.

Jaren Jackson Jr. triumphed to return the trophy to big players throughout the NBA following Marcus Smart’s Boston Celtics victory in the 2021–22 campaign. Jackson triumphed as the 2022–23 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, garnering 56 votes in the first round as opposed to Brook Lopez’s 31. The 24-year-old was a formidable player for the Memphis Grizzlies last season, leading the league with 3.0 blocks per game for the second consecutive year.

Once more, Jackson is the clear favorite to win this prize heading into the season, but a few other big names are also vying to be the league’s greatest defensive player. A few years ago, Giannis Antetokounmpo took home the trophy; currently, Marcus Smart plays with Jackson in Memphis; and Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo hasn’t held back when asserting that he’s the finest defender in the NBA.

Over the course of the NBA preseason, ClutchPoints polled members of the national media, including official league voters who help choose the season’s end-of-season award recipient. While some focus on certain teams, others cover the entire league. Nevertheless, a range of questions about the NBA Finals, the playoffs, and individual player honors and awards were posed to each member of the media.Although seven different players were given the opportunity to compete for Defensive Player of the Year, there was a strong agreement that would result in a new winner of the honor.

The outcomes of the voting for NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2023–24 are listed below.

2023–24 ClutchPoints Results of the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Media Poll
Bam Adebayo (36%), Miami Heat
20% is Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks.
(Boston Celtics) Jrue Holiday – 16%
Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers), Evan Mobley (Cleveland Cavaliers), Jaren Jackson Jr. (Memphis Grizzlies), and Anthony Davis (Los Angeles Lakers) all received votes.

Heat center Bam Adebayo’s quest for Defensive Player of the Year

For many years, the Miami Heat has been a title contender. Erik Spoelstra, the head coach and a preseason candidate for Coach of the Year, usually gets the most out of his players, even though they may not always have the finest squad. With Bam Adebayo, Spo has acted in precisely this manner over the years.

Adebayo, who came into the league as a raw, explosive big man, has developed into a versatile, two-way player who is capable of doing about everything on the floor. However, his greatest qualities are on the court’s defensive end. Adebayo is the center that every club is searching for now days because of his length and quickness.

Adebayo, a four-time member of the All-Defensive team, is already focused on taking home the 2023–24 Defensive Player of the Year title.

Adebayo stated this offseason, via Playmaker HQ, “Everyone always looks at the last column, which is how many points did he score in the game.” And many overlook the fact that the entertainment industry is the reason the other side of the court exists. That will, that desire, and that mindset are all that matter to me. It’s just what I’ve experienced, and I know I have that niche.

“Just so I can have the award, I want to win defensive player of the year.”

In the Defensive Player of the Year vote, Adebayo has placed sixth or higher in each of the last four years, including last season. Bam feels this way because he is the best defensive player on one of the league’s best defensive teams, and he should be considered for this honor.

In reference to his head coach’s feelings for his defensive anchor, Spoelstra recently stated that Adebayo is underappreciated for being regarded as one of the NBA’s top defenders.

During the preseason, Spo told reporters, “I think Bam is the best defensive player in the league and I just can’t understand why he’s not recognized for how impactful he is on that end of the court.”He will therefore just need to demonstrate it once more and carry it out this year till everyone takes notice. That seems like a worthwhile award to pursue.

Adebayo led the field for Defensive Player of the Year by a significant margin with 36% of the vote in the preseason media poll. Adebayo is fired up going into the 2023–24 season because of his abilities on the floor and the extra motivation that comes with being slept on.

Jaren Jackson Jr. is not loved at all.
Memphis Grizzlies’ Jaren Jackson Jr.

Jaren Jackson Jr. has been one of the league’s most influential defensive players over the past several seasons, there is no doubt about it. Jackson has not only led the league in blocked shots per game for the past two seasons, but he also possesses the ability to flip on and compete with players of any kind. In pick-and-roll settings, JJJ can rotate into the middle for easy blocks and play off the ball as a weak-side defender. He can also switch out onto guards on the perimeter.
His defensive play is crucial to the Grizzlies’ transition attack, which is why his blocked shots are so significant. NBA media members do not believe that he will earn Defensive Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons. Jackson, who had a difficult summer playing for Team USA at the FIBA World Cup, tied for fourth place in the voting with just 8% of the total.

The big man for the Grizzlies will need to lead Memphis to become the league’s best defense if he hopes to earn this honor once more. Jackson can repeat this accomplishment because previous season they were 11th in opponent points per game and second in defensive rating. It will be intriguing to observe how JJJ and the Grizzlies defense will fare in light of Smart’s acquisition.

Others in the mix are Jrue Holiday and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Bucks, Anthony Davis of the Lakers, and Jrue Holiday of the Celtics

Since Jackson was unable to place among the top three, Adebayo is thought to be the front-runner for this honor. In the NBA preseason media poll, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jrue Holiday came in just after Bam with 20 percent and 16 percent of the vote, respectively.

There will be less pressure on Antetokounmpo now that Damian Lillard is playing for the Milwaukee Bucks. In addition to giving Giannis more rest at the conclusion of the season, this will enable him to work with Brook Lopez, a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year in 2022–23, to help stabilize this team’s defense.

With Khris Middleton out due to injury last season, Antetokounmpo saw an increase in his scoring performance but was unable to play defense to the fullest extent of his abilities. With Lillard joining the team, we can expect to see a revitalized Giannis, more like the MVP winner from 2019 and 2020.

Holiday’s reputation as one of the NBA’s top perimeter defenders has never changed. Holiday, who moved from the Bucks to the Boston Celtics this offseason, now takes up Smart’s role after he left for Memphis. It is astonishing that Jrue, a five-time All-Defensive player, has never taken home the Defensive Player of the Year trophy.

Because he is so difficult to score against, all-stars throughout the league detest facing him. Holiday will be able to play with more freedom in a system that prioritizes perimeter defense in Boston. He might end up having his finest defensive season ever as a result of this.

The only other three players to be ranked in the NBA media poll were Joel Embiid, Evan Mobley, and Anthony Davis. Davis can definitely make a case for himself to be considered if he can maintain his health. The Los Angeles Lakers player appeared to be the front-runner for the MVP award at one time in the 2022–2023 season, and he can certainly lead the league in blocked shots.

AD’s recent health setbacks have prevented him from realizing his full potential. Los Angeles is counting on him to play the majority of the season on the floor. If this occurs, Davis should be considered a sleeper candidate for Defensive Player of the Year.