It’s almost not possible to poke any holes in Tim Duncan’s resume. The Corridor of Famer is extensively thought of the best energy ahead of all time with 5 NBA championships, two MVP’s, three Finals MVP’s, 15 All-Star appearances (again when the sport was taken extra critically), and making each All-NBA and All-Defensive Groups 15 instances. He’s additionally the one participant in NBA historical past to make the All-NBA and Protection groups in 13 consecutive seasons. Some haters will try to nitpick — like he by no means repeated as a champion, and for some motive Lakers followers wish to attempt (and fail) and hype Anthony Davis over him — however for probably the most half, Duncan’s resume speaks for itself.
Nevertheless, if there may be one obtrusive gap, it’s that he by no means received Defensive Participant of the 12 months, which contemplating all of the All-Protection appearances (together with 8 instances on the primary workforce), stays mind-boggling to today, particularly because the purpose posts seemingly get moved yearly for what the precise definition of this reward is. Look no additional than this season, when the consensus high two candidates for DPOY are Rudy Gobert and Victor Wembanyama. Gobert, the favourite to win the award for the fourth time, is little question an incredible defender, along with his case this 12 months being he’s the most effective defender on the most effective protection.
Then there’s Wemby, who’s already thought of the most effective particular person defender in league, main in blocks with 3.6 per sport and shares (steals + blocks) with 4.8. His presence alone is sufficient to deter gamers from even attempting to go at him, and after they do, they usually remorse it as he has 10% block fee or will power the participant to regulate into a virtually not possible shot. However right here’s the factor: he’s a rookie on a bottom-10 protection within the league (though the Spurs grew from worst early within the season to twenty first in defensive ranking by the top).
There’s one thing about these two info that can information most voters in direction of for Gobert, and it simply goes to point out that the purpose posts are at all times shifting relying on the scenario (as is commonly the case for MVP). Some years it’s for finest particular person defender, others it’s finest defender on the most effective protection, however regardless, there may be little doubt Wemby will probably be DPOY the 12 months sometime, presumably even a number of instances (if he’s not absorbing MVPs, and voters often don’t give the identical participant each awards in the identical 12 months).
That brings us again to Duncan. He hit each of these aforementioned marks a number of instances however by no means received as a result of he at all times gave the impression to be on the unsuitable aspect of the purpose publish in any given 12 months, amongst different causes. For one, he was splitting votes with Bruce Bowen, which in flip harm each their instances. To not point out, there could have been the view that the Spurs simply had a great defensive system versus being carried by a few good defenders, and all of us bear in mind the “system participant” stigma, proper?
One other clarification is one which has at all times labored in opposition to Duncan: he wasn’t flashy. He didn’t block balls into the third row, he didn’t flex at his opponents, and he didn’t put up the sexiest stats. He was simply there, making life onerous for his opponents earlier than shifting on to the subsequent possession. That will clarify why throughout his period, gamers like Ben Wallace and Dwight Howard received DPOY a whopping seven instances mixed: they had been defenders at the beginning who recorded large stats and made crowds scream after they blocked pictures with authority, whereas Duncan would go for the much less flashy “mild” block, with the purpose of retaining possession (which is an underappreciated however vital ability).
Lastly, there’s the beforehand talked about be aware that, with uncommon expectation, most voters merely aren’t going to vote the identical participant for MVP and DPOY, in order that probably led to some break up votes for Duncan as effectively. Solely 5 gamers have ever received each awards of their whole careers, solely solely twice did it occur in the identical 12 months: Hakeem Olajuwan in 1993-94, and Giannis Antetokounmpo in 2019-20. (Curiously sufficient, in each instances, these gamers had been on their second straight MVP after they received DPOY. It truly wouldn’t be shocking to see Wemby be part of their firm sometime.)
To summarize, the primary causes I imagine Tim Duncan by no means received Defensive participant of the 12 months are the next: he was splitting votes with teammates, splitting votes between MVP and DPOY, and the commonest wrongdoer: he simply wasn’t flashy sufficient whereas enjoying in an period when protection within the NBA was at its peak. There’s zero doubt he ought to have received it a minimum of as soon as, if no more — take 2006-07 as an illustration, when Marcus Camby received regardless of the Spurs being the most effective protection within the league whereas the Nuggets had been mid, shifting that purpose publish as soon as once more — however whereas it stays the one obtrusive gap in his resume, it actually doesn’t take away from his general profession. He’s and at all times would be the GOAT PUFF.
