The Memphis big man was announced Monday night as the recipient of the Hakeem Olajuwon Trophy as the 2022-23 Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year, becoming the second player to win the award while wearing a Grizzlies’ uniform.
He got 56 first-place votes and 391 voting points to finish ahead of runner-up Brook Lopez of the Milwaukee Bucks, who got 31 first-place votes and 309 points.
Even though he’s always been a shot-blocker – he’s swatted 1.8 per game throughout his career – this was the first time that Lopez was a serious candidate for the DPOY award.
Golden State’s Draymond Green was fourth, followed by Miami’s Bam Adebayo in fifth, Antetokounmpo in sixth, Toronto’s O.G.
He is also a two-time NBA champion, 12-time NBA AllStar, league MVP, two-time NBA Finals MVP, 12-time All-NBA Team selection and a member of the NBA’s 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams. The trophy features a player in a classic defensive stance with one hand up and one down, knees bent and ready to move.
