Oklahoma City Thunder forward Paul George was one of three players in consideration for 2019 Defensive Player of the Year. The winner was announced on Monday’s 2019 NBA Awards show on TNT. For the second time in as many seasons, Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert received the Defensive Player of the Year Award.
Gobert, George and the third finalist, Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, were each a member of the 2019 NBA All-Defensive First Team.
George led NBA with 2.2 steals per game, 89 defensive loose balls recovered and 292 deflections. The Thunder forward was also third in the league in defensive win shares (.166) — a category which Antetokounmpo led (.179). George also averaged 8.2 rebounds a night.
Gobert, meanwhile, was second in the league in contested shots (1296), third in blocks per game (2.31) and fourth in rebounds per game (12.9).
Despite leading in multiple defensive and hustle categories, George finished third in the Defensive Player of the Year voting with 150 points and six first-place votes, per Maddie Lee of The Oklahoman.
