Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James still couldn't help but claim that he should have won Defensive Player of the Year in 2013 instead of his new teammate Marc Gasol. The King's latest banter reached Gasol on Friday, as the newly signed Lakers center addressed the supposed controversy.
While the 35-year-old big man believes he was the rightful winner, Gasol said in an interview with ESPN that his former Memphis Grizzlies teammate Tony Allen was even more deserving of the award than LeBron that season.
“I believe that trophy is for the Grizzlies in 2013. I think the team that deserved to have that trophy was the Grizzlies. For some reason, they picked me. If anybody, the one that should have claimed that trophy was Tony Allen, from my point of view. At the same time, from the First All-Defensive Team, I believe I should be there. But I don't, and I don't care. We (LeBron) can have a laugh about it if he wants. If not, I'm sure he can get that this year if he wants to.”
While LeBron is a pretty formidable defender even to this day, it's not hard to deny Gasol's claim for the recognition. The three-time All-Star, after all, anchored the best defensive unit in the NBA that year. Even the greatest offensive teams had a hard time scoring against the Grit N' Grind Grizzlies during that stretch.
LBJ, meanwhile, has been pretty vocal about that snub for years, even making it a point that Gasol only made All-Defensive Second Team that same year he won DPOY. LeBron did make it to the All-Defensive First Team, while Tyson Chandler and Joakim Noah tied for most votes for the center spot.
Regardless of LeBron's opinion, it seems he is thrilled to have Marc Gasol on board in their bid to repeat as NBA champions.
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