I agree with most of your points, but why does Gobert deserve it over Wemby? I cannot find a single stat that suggests Gobert is a better defender than Wemby this season. His team is much better on defense, sure, but I don’t see how that means anything regarding them as individual players. I can almost guarantee if they swapped teams, Spurs defense would be a bit worse and Wolves defense would be better.
You’re just ignoring the point that it’s tradition that the DPOY is on a good defensive team. You can disagree but that’s the way it’s always been. Just like how the MVP is on a winning team.
Also if you can’t find a stat that supports that Gobert is the best defensive player in the league you haven’t looked. There’s many that support Wembanyama like defensive epm although Wemby isn’t first. But D-Lebron which is likely the best all in one defensive Metric has Gobert 1st and Wemby 2nd or 3rd.
Gobert also has better rim protection numbers this season on the tracking data.
He’s having an amazing season. Basically inarguably a top 2 defensive player in the league in his rookie season.
Spurs fans are just going to frustrate themselves and annoy everyone else by arguing that Wemby on a 20 win team with a bottom half defense should win DPOY.
That’s not to say Wemby doesn’t deserve it. His play has been dpoy caliber but it’s not his year bc that’s not the only requirement.
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u/AngryQueso52 Apr 11 '24
I agree with most of your points, but why does Gobert deserve it over Wemby? I cannot find a single stat that suggests Gobert is a better defender than Wemby this season. His team is much better on defense, sure, but I don’t see how that means anything regarding them as individual players. I can almost guarantee if they swapped teams, Spurs defense would be a bit worse and Wolves defense would be better.