NBA Defensive Player of The Year: 5 Players who missed out

#2 Tim Duncan

San Antonio Spurs v Miami Heat - Game 6

Tim Duncan, another basketball cyborg produced by the San Antonio Spurs, was an elite two-way player, but his defense is what really helped him stand out.

Ben Wallace, Dikembe Mutombo, Marcus Camby, Dwight Howard, and so many other DPOY big men had polarizing block counts, while Duncan was a more technically sound defender rather than a flashy one. He was still a phenomenal shot blocker, but his understanding of team defence was unlike most other big men we've ever seen.

Duncan was never in the wrong spot, played flawless help defense, hedged appropriately at drivers and shooters, knew how to defend the pick and roll, communicated with his team, and prioritized forcing bad shots and securing rebounds rather than blocking shots.

Duncan averaged 2.5 blocks throughout his first ten years in the league and ended his career averaging 2.2 per game despite playing until he was 39 years old.

The number one overall pick in 1997 made an instant impact on defense by finishing fifth in DPOY voting. Duncan finished third in 2001 and 2007 and received votes in twelve of his 19 NBA seasons, but the five-time champion was never able to win the award.

Duncan's advanced defensive metrics are quite remarkable, too. He led the league once in defensive box plus/minus, and five times in defensive win shares. Most unbelievably of all, he led the league in defensive win shares as a rookie, and defensive box plus/minus in his final season at age 39.