Usually around this time every season like clockwork, Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers sings the praises of DeAndre Jordan, campaigning for him to be the Defensive Player of the Year.

Not this year.

Rivers is in full support of Kawhi Leonard winning the award for what would be the third season in a row.

It's pretty much unanimous that Leonard has become the premiere perimeter defender in the league and as elite a player as they come on that end of the floor.

Jordan is certainly always in the conversation too and the Clippers have been playing some great basketball down the stretch that could help him garner some votes.

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green will probably be the biggest competition for Leonard as he has helped lead the Warriors to becoming an elite defense again despite the loss of Andrew Bogut.

Rivers' words if anything speak mostly to the respect that people around the league have for Leonard. Even when you have a great defender on your team like Jordan, Rivers can't help but admit the best defender is probably Leonard.