(New York) Boston Celtics point guard Marcus Smart is the first guard in just over a quarter century to win NBA Defensive Player of the Year.
Posted at 8:23 p.m.
The NBA made the announcement on Monday. The last guard to get that honor was Gary Payton with the Seattle Supersonics in 1995-96.
Smart helped the Celtics lead the NBA in average runs allowed (104.6) while holding opponents to the worst two-run (.434) and three-run (.339) completion rates. . The 28-year-old ranked seventh in steals per game (1.68) and sixth in overall steals (119).
Smart scored 257 points and 37 first-place votes from a panel of 100 reporters. Phoenix Suns winger Mikal Bridges finished second with 202 points and 22 first-place votes.
Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert, who won that title in 2018, 2019 and 2021, ranked third with 136 points and 12 first-place votes.
Smart, who has started all 71 games he has played, ranks fourth in free balls recovered (75) and tied for 10and rank for deviations (106) and loads suffered (16).
Milwaukee Bucks power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo won the award in 2020.
Players got five points per first-place vote, three for second-tier, and one for third-tier.