Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart received a glaring recommendation from NBA superstar-turned-analyst Dwyane Wade last week. “The Flash” commended the gritty guard for his fearless tenacity on the defensive side of the basketball and claimed he should be named Defensive Player of the Year this 2019-20 season.
Smart acknowledged Wade's kind words in a Twitter post and said more guards should be in consideration for the award.
Appreciate the love @DwyaneWade ! comin from one of the best to ever play the game! I’m w u. DPOY equality! Guards can do it too. Defense ain’t about the size. It’s about the ❤️. Appreciate u! pic.twitter.com/AVclhgrvxA
— marcus smart (@smart_MS3) March 6, 2020
Dwyane Wade, of course, knows a thing or two about defense since he holds the record for most blocks made by a guard (885).
The Defensive Player of the Year plum, however, has always been considered a “big men” award. Forwards and centers usually get the nod since the league first handed out the awards in the 1982-83 season. Sidney Moncrief and Michael Jordan were among the first guards to win the honor.
The last time a backcourt player received the recognition was way back in the 1995-96 season when Gary Payton bested giants to be named DPOY.
Marcus Smart, meanwhile, certainly has the credentials to be a frontrunner for the recognition this season. The 6-foot-3 combo guard usually takes on the team's best opposing player, regardless of position. He is notching 13.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1.7 steals in 51 games this year for the Celtics.
Boston has been brilliant defensively this season, thanks in large part to Smart's ability to cover multiple positions. The Celtics guard, however, will indeed have his work cut out for him, as back-to-back DPOY winner Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz is once again on track to claim his third straight plum.
Moreover, Los Angeles Lakers superstar Anthony Davis is also a strong contender this year as he leads the Purple and Gold franchise to one of the best defenses in the league today.
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