Los Angeles Lakers standout Anthony Davis has resigned himself to the idea that he may never receive recognition as the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year.

“I’ve given up on that,” he remarked to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. “They won’t give it to me. The league doesn’t have a favorable view of me. I believe I’m the premier defensive player in the league. I can guard any position, from 1 to 5. I excel at defending the pick-and-roll, especially as a big. I block shots and grab rebounds.

“At this point, I’m not sure what else to do. I’ve moved past it. My focus is solely on contributing to the team’s success and pursuing a championship. Individual accolades and awards no longer concern me.”

Despite his defensive prowess, Davis was notably absent from the list of finalists contending for the DPOY title this season.

The nine-time All-Star has received votes for the DPOY award in five different seasons but hasn’t been a significant contender since finishing as the runner-up in 2019-20.

Injuries have undoubtedly played a role in this. Over the past three years, he has been limited to 36, 40, and 56 games, respectively.

However, durability wasn’t as much of an issue for Davis this season, as he participated in 76 games. Given his impressive averages of 2.3 blocks and 12.6 rebounds per game, along with his consistent playing time, one might expect him to receive some votes for the DPOY award, even if not enough to secure the win.

With the NBA’s individual awards determined by the media rather than the league itself, many Lakers supporters may interpret Anthony Davis’ exclusion from the Defensive Player of the Year conversation as a failure by journalists to adequately acknowledge his defensive prowess or perhaps even as a deliberate snub.

However, it’s not just the media that has overlooked the 31-year-old’s defensive abilities in recent assessments.

In a recent anonymous player poll conducted by The Athletic’s Sam Amick and Josh Robbins, Davis didn’t make the top 15 answers when players were asked to name the NBA’s best defender. Instead, he found himself categorized under “others receiving votes.”

The noticeable absence of Davis from the Defensive Player of the Year discussion is striking, particularly considering his versatility and the fact that he has led the NBA in blocks on three separate occasions. Yet, given his age, it appears increasingly likely that he may miss out on the recognition he deserves.