Subscribe
Follow Us
Denver Nuggets point guard Jamal Murray has been evidently ramping up his efforts on the defensive end of the ball this season. However, considering how the other great defenders in the league are also playing, it would seem highly unlikely for Murray to find himself in the mix for the Defensive Player of the Year award this season.
According to NBA.com, the Kentucky product has been effective particularly in close-out situations, bothering an average of 6.8 shots per game on shots made from 15 feet and beyond. He has been an intimidating presence for shooters who normally shoot 37.7 % from beyond the arc. With Murray defending them, their accuracy went down to only 28.8%, giving the Nuggets point guard a defensive gain of 8.9%.
In addition, Murray is also averaging 1.1 steals and 0.3 blocks through 33 contests this season. His statistics may prove his impact but it is still significantly lower as compared to the rest of the playing field.
Upon assessing the other contenders for the award, perhaps the biggest hurdle that he would have to overcome first is Philadelphia 76ers point forward Ben Simmons. With his length and athleticism, the Australian national is currently tied for the most deflections in the league with an average of 3.9 and loose balls recovered with 1.4.
Another frontrunner in the conversation is Utah Jazz big man Rudy Gobert. As much as he is drawing flak for his dismal offensive production, it can't be denied that the Frenchman owns a stifling presence in the paint. He is currently averaging 2.8 blocks and 0.4 steals through 35 appearances this season. The two-time Defensive Player of the Year awardee will definitely vie for the third trophy of his career if he can further improve his numbers as the season progresses.
When talking about the prolific big men in the league, Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner shouldn't be left out of the conversation. He has seen a ton of challenges lately as he is facing around 17.9 attempts per game from his opponents. Due to his length, they are only limited to register 41.8% shooting from the field, mainly consisting of two-pointers.
His impact on the defensive end also goes beyond his individual capacity. The Pacers are currently ranked as the third-best shot-blocking team in the league, with Turner accounting for 72.2% of their total tally. The 24-year-old Texas native is currently leading the league in blocks with 3.4 rejections along with 1.1 steals through 31 games played this season.
Other dark-horse contenders for the award include Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James and the reigning Defensive Player of the Year awardee in Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks.
In addition, Jamal Murray is also finding himself against the odds as the Defensive Player of the Year award tends to favor forwards and big men candidates in recent seasons. In fact, Seattle SuperSonics great Gary Payton was the last point guard to win the award, dating back to the 1995-96 season.
It can't be denied that Jamal Murray has been a presence on the defensive end as seen from his ability to alter shots when closing out. However, he would need to make a greater impact and produce more impressive numbers if he wants to be in serious consideration for the award.
Perhaps a stronger effort from him in the second half of the season would make a better case for his candidacy. However, as it stands today, the tight competition led by Ben Simmons and Rudy Gobert will definitely make it tough for him to even land in the top three of the race by the end of the regular season.
