"The narrative is being pushed for Wemby to get it" - Anthony Davis makes shocking claim about never winning NBA DPOY award

Anthony Davis voiced his frustration about never winning the NBA Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) award, claiming that narratives are being shifted to accommodate Victor Wembanyama.

Traditionally, the award has gone to rim protectors who anchor their teams' defenses while averaging several blocks per game. Davis has led the league in blocks multiple times during his career, topping the category in 2014, 2015 and 2018.

Despite these accomplishments, Anthony Davis has never won the award, which he admitted in an interview with Shams Charania on Thursday "pissed" him off.

"The narrative is being pushed for Wemby to get it," Davis said. "Obviously he's averaging what like four blocks or something crazy like that, but then it goes back to are we talking about just blocks? I don't know how anything works anymore."

"When I first got into the league, (DPOY) was awarded to the big that blocked shots, who led the league in blocks. I mean, I've done that three times early on in my career, and it didn't come to me right? ... I'm pissed I don't have one for sure because I know how much I put on the defensive end."

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Anthony Davis no longer prioritizes DPOY

Anthony Davis is widely regarded as one of the best defenders in the NBA. Even during his early years, Davis established himself as a defensive force, leading the league in blocks three times. This season, he is averaging 2.2 blocks and 1.3 steals per game, with his elite rim protection playing a significant role in the LA Lakers’ success.

However, after being overlooked for the award multiple times, Davis has seemingly stopped prioritizing it. In an interview with Melissa Rohlin of Fox Sports in December 2024, Davis opened up about his feelings regarding DPOY.

“There’s nothing that I can’t do defensively," Davis said. "I can switch one-through-five. I’m one of the best at guarding pick-and-rolls, an elite rim protector. Whatever you need me to do defensively, I can do."

"I honestly just stopped caring about it. But I’m not sure why I haven’t received one yet, even though I’m in a conversation about it every year. At this point, I’m kind of just over it. I’m focusing on winning a championship.”

The Lakers (24-18) have been on a roll in 2025, climbing to fifth place in the Western Conference. As of Jan. 24, they are just three games behind the Denver Nuggets (28-16) after a blowout win against the Boston Celtics, the defending champions, on Thursday.