If DPOYs Were Given To the BEST Defender (2000s)

The NBA typically gives its Defensive Player of the Year award to players who meet certain criterias... but what if the DPOY was just given to the best defender? We're looking at who would win it in those cases from the 2000s.
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The game of Basketball has been my passion since I was 5 years old. I grew up as a kid watching my dad's recorded VHS tapes of playoff games through the 70s and 80s, and collected all the Basketball cards. Something about the game and what it represents just hooked me from a very young age.
My love for the game only continues to grow as time goes on. I love studying and analyzing the game, with an unbiased perspective. Feel free to subscribe, follow me on social media, and celebrate this amazing game and it's rich history with me!
I post videos every week on NBA history, predictions, hypothetical scenarios and current NBA topics.
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Intro Music: Turn On - RW Smith • Turn On - RW Smith (No... ​​​​​​​​​​
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#nba #basketball #hoops

[@jonnyarnett]

Some of you have been asking for this series for literally YEARS, so I’m sorry for the wait, but I hope you enjoy it! Who was one player in the 2000s who deserved the award more than the guy who won??

[@tyler420durdenAk]

Thank you 🙏 for every video and you drive for truth and fairness! Rip Mamba

[@soulseer1191]

Do the same but with the rookies

[@nvm9040]

Definitely Duncan getting the seats over Mutombo is definitely fair Plus I would love to see this series with ROY

[@prathikkarthikeyan6684]

Thank you so much (one of the people who has been asking for this for years). I love your channel so much and am so glad you have grown so much!.

[@legendaryshots4047]

You should talk about John brisker

[@celtics17banners84]

The MVP series was amazing. Glad you’re finally highlighting the defenders

[@fffhfhhhh]

ONG!!!!

[@Is0keem]

Fr

[@clevisbernier8973]

Ben Wallace is without a doubt one of the greatest athletes in NBA history.

[@twilitezn]

The fact that Big Ben AVERAGED 3+ bpg for THREE YEARS at only 6’9” (and I swear that he was only 6’7”) is unfathomable.

[@Isaac-mk3wj]

@@twiliteznhe was definitely at most 6’8. the strongest player in NBA history

[@twilitezn]

@@Isaac-mk3wj Wilt might have something to say about that.

[@Isaac-mk3wj]

@@twilitezn man i swear the stories we hear about him are like modern myths. i don’t think he actually had a 40+ inch vert at 7’2” lmfao

[@twilitezn]

@@Isaac-mk3wj that ain’t the HALF of it, if you read his 1970s Biography…some of that stuff would make you accept the vertical talk… He WAS at least an elite college track and field athlete - he held the NCAA record for the high jump - doing it the old straddle method (in warmups) - for a time….but I look at the fact that he ruptured his patellar tendon in the early 1970 season…was out for four months, returned for the playoffs and helped lead the Lakers to Game 7 of the NBA Finals - THAT’S more impressive…on top of that, he averaged 18 rpg for the three years AFTER the injury.

[@pariahcovers7769]

I love how Ben loses a DPOY in this but still ends up with 4 lol.

[@nbabackcourtmedia]

AK47 and Shawn Marion really deserved more love than they got for their defensive ability. There’s no way a defender of Marion’s caliber doesn’t have an all defensive selection. And you could argue AK47 should have a DPOY

[@jonnyarnett]

It was so competitive amongst the wing defenders in the era. Artest, Bowen, Tony Allen, Doug Christie, Prince, AK47, Kobe, Marion, Battier, etc. That's probably why the Matrix never got a selection, but man, he really deserved at least ONE

[@jlui21]

@@jonnyarnett -- I rag on KMart some, but it is also surprising that he didn't sniff a Defensive Team either.

[@younglove3362]

Marion is so slept 😴 on. He's the reason why the Mavericks beat the Lakers in 2011. And it wasn't because of his offense. Igoudala is another player who is slept on defensively. I used to tell people he was the shooting guard version of Marion.

[@Davivd2]

@@younglove3362 Iggy is slept on for both offense and defense. He was a great play maker with the ball in his hands and he could score. He was just one of those guys that always did what the team needed instead of going for stats. He could really do it all though. A Swiss army knife player.

[@johndavis9321]

Yeah man when I saw Shawn Marion had no defensive teams to his name I was shocked that criminal that that man hasn't gotten more defensive selections

[@dmadgrass]

Otherwise known as the "Ben Wallace" video haha

[@kylankendrick123]

Timmy never winning the dpoy is one of the greatest what ifs , even though he's considered as one of the greatest defensive players of all time . Honestly i thought he won atleast 1 but yep its a sad thing indeed. Thanks jonny, i love defense.

[@younglove3362]

Nobody wanted to see Duncan in the paint 🎨. Not even Iverson.

[@JoshCConnor]

It's because he played with 2 guys consistently getting DPOY votes and sometimes more than him

[@dannybachner899]

​@@JoshCConnor Robinson wasn't getting votes in 98 % of the 2000s

[@terrellbaker1660]

Tim and Lebron should have won it at least once. Lebron was first team all defense in 2013 yet lost to Marc Gasol who was second team all defense. Make it make sense.

[@Jonathan-A.C.]

@@terrellbaker1660 I can agree, but the reason why that worked that way is because it’s two different ways of voting. All-Defensive, IIRC, is done by the media. DPOY is done by the coaches

[@celtics17banners84]

Those Bruce Bowen stats against superstars is insane!

[@Bigedub101]

I mean besides his dirty plays where always jumping in landing space ...Zaza

[@grahamjl766]

Fearing for your carrier every time you land from a jump will make you think twice about jumping...

[@thsu8]

03-08 Bruce Bowen was the NBA version of 07-12 Darrelle Revis. Maybe the best on-ball/man-to-man defender in league history.

[@TobyKBTY]

Love Big Ben. Dude was a freak even in the era of Shaq, KG, Duncan

[@newthrash1221]

I had no idea Ben Wallace was only 6'9", that makes his defense so much more impressive imho.

[@BallerBrain]

Ben Wallace himself says that he's 2 inches shorter than his listed height, so that makes him 6'7''.

[@TheShadow84]

He's shorter than LeBron. I saw Ben play in Cleveland with Bron & Bron was taller standing side by side. Makes his accomplishments more impressive.

[@Bilious303]

You get my sub for highlighting defense in the nba. Thank you

[@gugga2745]

jonny id love to see some videos about the dpoy and finals mvp and other awards but for the seasons in which the award didnt exist

[@jonnyarnett]

Oh yeah, those will be in the series too!

[@eltongamboa12]

Could you also make a dpoy of the playoffs/finals? I'm a big fan of the defensive end

[@sh1nighami]

gotta say ur editing has taken a huge leap my G

[@jonnyarnett]

Thanks man, but I can’t take the credit 😂 I hired an editor who does an excellent job. Whenever I do a livestream type video, he’s the guy who’s always on camera with me

[@Midragor]

Hell yeah, that series ruled, nice comeback

[@fortynights1513]

Definitely a topic worth discussing

[@trumpjesus3936]

Gotta be one of my favorite NBA KZbinrs. I don't think I would ever have learned so much about basketball history. Another underrated defender is Shawn Marion who could guard any position and would bring value to any team he played on with his versatile defense. A lot of people talk about his Dallas Maverick days, but I think his Phoneix Sun run is quite underrated, and would love to see how he compares to other defensive greats.

[@LuiWithTheUzi]

Babe get up, Jonny Arnett just dropped a new video

[@UsedShovel]

its always nice to have your perspective because i wasnt a diehard NBA fan until 2015 and i know you actually watched these seasons, but especially on defense because stats never do it justice

[@wassaw21boi20]

This content is amazing. Good to see you upload DYOP version of the MVP series. Good stuff

[@tranceform9459]

I love your research

[@petepandazis3286]

Love this! Please continue with the other decades as well

[@mikel7254]

Been waiting for the DPOY for every decade series for awhile, Thanks Jony!

[@rdtworld9720]

As nice as it would be to give Duncan a DPOTY his 2001 defensive value is tough to gauge as David Robinson was still a defensive force himself (it's arguable Duncan is even the better defensive player than Robinson at this point), while Mutombo didn't nearly have that support in Atlanta or Philadelphia. If you are picking Camby in the later years, you should be picking Mutombo in 2001. (although interestingly Theo Ratliff, who Mutombo was traded for, would have had a legitimate argument had he finished the season).

[@lashajaunburnett-simmons1802]

U make great content mannn love it 💯

[@eternalselph]

Your intro is so dope. Nostalgia kicks in!!

[@kingdinodragonite3470]

I dont agree with 08 since most advanced metrics (not talking about blocks, steals, or winshares, I'm talking about CORP% used by Thinking Basketball, DRAPM and DARKO). These stats along with WOWY had KG's season in 08 as the 2nd best defensive season since 1977 (only behind 04 Ben).

[@dododump3144]

Defense stats in general aren’t really good since it’s hard to gauge a players defensive value without accounting for teammates since it’s such a team oriented side of the ball. The eye test will always be the best which is why I don’t think KG truly had the 2nd best defensive season since 77

[@alex4833]

Awesome video and cool new series, Jonny! You made solid arguments throughout. I wish TD won a DPOY (esp for 2000-2001). I knew he never won one and I know the 2000s had great defense, but it still surprises me how he never won one. Camby was good and I remember his days in New York and Denver. He def. was a solid role player, rebounder, and defender. Awesome video and series idea again! Happy Wednesday😊

[@AttuideAdjuster101]

was hoping a video like this would get made!!

[@d.columbia9603]

Another great series

[@markjackson6431]

i’ve been waiting for this. Jonny you the best

[@jonnyarnett]

Thanks man. Btw, you’re eventually getting that Dream Team 2 video. I’m saving it for July 4th, since it will be team USA themed. I think I’m gonna throw it in a massive Team USA compilation 👍

[@markjackson6431]

@@jonnyarnett thank you soo much

[@woodberry323]

i agree with this list Jonny, love ur stuff dude

[@MarkLaw13]

Kawhi should have won it 3x in 2010s. 2015, 16, 17. They didn't want to give thrice. Draymond had more first place votes in 2016 but Kawhi got injured and Spurs fell in the seeding. Hence, why the league knew Kawhi's impact defensively was the issue which led to him overwhelming having 2nd place votes

[@jazz2262]

about to watch this super excited

[@jdog5345]

Been waiting for so long finally glad it’s here

[@d3adyoutubeaccount]

Been waiting for this one

[@jamesmcinerney1030]

Was waiting on this one for a while! You’re the best content creator in basketball and it’s not even close.

[@gold-man9]

I love these series 👍🏻

[@BOSSDONMAN]

8:00 can't give all the credit to Bruce tbh. That Lakers team was terrible, and that Spurs team was a great all-time defensive team. The entire team's defense could basically tunnel vision on Kobe and LeBron, because their supporting casts were terrible.

[@facelessandnameless]

This. 100% accurate.

[@TipsTricksandTalents]

This is great content

[@nvm9040]

Yes I can’t wait for the other eras for DPOY And ofc I love content

[@youngb4422]

didn’t miss a beat when this came on my notifications

[@joelbarcial6920]

glad to have come acrossed this video. seeing tim and bruce get the recognition they really deserved during the 00s. heck Bowen was even guarding Nowitzki on matches against the Mavs. anyway, im sure they are ok without the awards considering they won 3 rings on the years they played together.

[@ZionthaGr8]

W series I watched this video dozens of times at some point I would want a 1990s and 2010s version but this will be fine until it comes out

[@teelyttle2480]

Great video!! But what happened to the ultimate team series??

[@alecboulton3537]

JONNY THE GOAT I love this man

[@owensmith2137]

Great video! I heard Marcus Camby's came in a Ghostface Killah song but I didn't know anything about him till this 👍

[@hairmetalvideoz]

You forgot to show all of Bowen's defensive highlights! You know, the ones where he intentionally tries and on occasion succeeded to injure other players by sticking his foot under his opponents when they shot the ball.

[@BOSSDONMAN]

The last era in the NBA where we got to see streneous, tough, lockdown defense.

[@rogelioatempa1115]

There is still tough strenuous defense being played today. It's just that players don't miss open shots, there's more spacing and there are very rare players who can't do anything on offense.

[@BOSSDONMAN]

@@rogelioatempa1115 It's a mix of the following: 1) very good offensive spacing which means a lot of energy is expended on close outs 2) refs are much more willing to call fouls for very light contact 3) because of (1 & 2) - it's oftentimes better to eat the cost of the other team scoring and conserving your energy for offense-which inevitably leads to a lot of ppl simply not trying on defense

[@TheStatisfiedOne]

@@rogelioatempa1115the problem is not that the defence got worse, it actually gotten better, it’s that offence got insanely better at a higher pace and 3pt shooting

[@fullmetal1766]

Great video

[@politicallynotcorrect]

I swear to you if you do the 90’s Scottie pippen should win atleast 3 DPOY

[@yvans.]

We need a 90’s and 80’s version of it Johnny !!!

[@johndebono1870]

Great video overall, I think the 2000s is pretty easy to do since Ben Wallace has an argument for being an even better defensive player than Olajuwon, but love the acknowledgement for how good the Spurs and Camby were at the time too.

[@reimixo]

Better than Olajuwon???? Gimme some of that

[@johndebono1870]

@@reimixo Well obviously the offensive limitation and shorter prime stops Ben Wallace from being as great overall as Olajuwon, but the defensive impact during his Pistons years vs the best 6 years of Olajuwon's defensive peak is pretty close.

[@reimixo]

@@johndebono1870 no it isn't lol hakeem was doing it Alone, no sheed or prince... Hakeem spg in 17y is the same as Wallace best year... 1x Wallace beat the avg of hakeem career... And hakeem was going against Ewing Robinson Shaw kareem parish... Playing both ends... Stop it...

[@GBsavant]

⁠@@reimixoThey had Mad Max and Robert Horry plus others. What are you talking about? Ben anchored the best defensive team ever and then left and turned Chicago into a top3 defensive team. That’s all he did. At least give him that.

[@johnnier.o.d4746]

​@@GBsavant.... their first championship,thorpe helped the dream defending the low post as his frontcourt partner .... thorpe is a good low post defender too .....

[@turnuppapi5252]

So happy you made this I’m big on defense and it just be 3 all defensive teams… and yessssss Duncan Deserves to have at least one dpoy great job bro

[@chrisschaeffer9661]

Finally!! An informative show on Basketball!! No Hot Takes. Just Interesting Facts. Welcome back quality journalism.

[@tokivikerness8863]

This is what I've been looking forward to from your channel. And I have an awful feeling. It'll probably be one of your Least popular video. Really hoping for it to take off though more defensive stuff?

[@chrisschaeffer9661]

I love Defense. Thanks for the informative program about it. Probably not a lot of AND1 fans. Lol

[@emilfrederiksen.1622]

Can you make videos of the most deserving Finals MVP every year. Where players that didn't win the finals could also get the award. Also its crazy that Tim Duncan has never won a DPOY considering what a dominant defensive player he has been his whole career.

[@joek1989]

Ya like 2015 lebron

[@yvans.]

@@joek1989Over Kawhi you trippin .

[@footyroll8678]

2015 was against warriors. but even if its 2014 its easily bron. kawhi had one of the most mediocre statliens for a fmvp ever@@yvans.

[@user-py9qv2zd1u]

Great to see Bowen getting recognition. Best perimeter defender of the 2000’s, but he was only able to be so aggressive because Duncan was always in the right spot on defense. Duncan deserved at least a couple of DPOY awards for anchoring the best defensive team during the 00’s (and possibly of all time) but was overlooked by voters for the flashy blocks and counting stats of other players. Also, Camby really wasn’t that great defensively except for weak side help, but I understand that he had to cover up several defensive liabilities on his team.

[@nickhobbs9196]

I'm going to be for real, I was questioning the selection of Bruce Bowen over Ben Wallace. I obviously knew Bruce Bowen was a really good defender, if not a little dirty. But the way you presented the argument, you genuinely swung me. Brilliant video Jonny

[@followhim1203]

this channel is awesome

[@swam2922]

The most underrated defender nobody ever talk bout is ak47 he was avg 3blks and 2stl like 4 of his seasons the fact he never won one is crazy as hell to me

[@MyDixieNormis]

What an amazing video to wake up to.

[@WarrenF19]

My man Jonny!! I've been telling people for YEARS that Artest didn't deserve the '04 DPOY!!

[@danielc3321]

Storytime: Camby grew up in the next town over from me. My uncle taught at his HS. He took me to a few of Camby's basketball games including the state championship. Of course I didn't realize I was watching a future DPOY!

[@87alock]

Love this video concept, epecially since there's a severe lack of defense in our current NBA.

[@IGenius2013]

I mean I get why you say this but realistically it’s less a lack of defense and more of a result of advancements in offense and changes in rules. It’s a lot harder to play defense nowadays than in the past.

[@rogelioatempa1115]

There's no severe lack of defense in the NBA today. Players offensively are just better and take better shots. Especially the bench to mid tier players.

[@willg3220]

Feel like it should matter how good the teams record is. Otherwise, how impactful was the great D. Centers are usually giants so they should be holding a lot on D. Imo..

[@facelessandnameless]

Agreed. Typically the best defensive teams are going to be winning games.

[@nervio2701]

need this for the 2010s

[@chrilpy]

Great video but would've loved if you covered every year since the award was invented

[@kokoy0971]

Tim Duncan having no DPOY awards is crazy

[@julianebel9106]

Big Ben and that Pistons team were amazing! Everything the NBA is lacking nowadays

[@inna1611]

C.Wallace PF.Duncan SF.Bowen SG.Bryant PG.Kidd 6man.Garnett

[@hairmetalvideoz]

Wallace was absolutely a better defender than Bowen EVERY single year they played. Wallace actually guarded you, he didn't need to do none of that fouling you the whole game and sticking his foot under you when you shoot garbage.

[@michaelhutchings8599]

Easily top 3 best BB channels on YT. Can't stand the one's that just rely on fluff. Every series you've done is awesome. Filled with fact's, great editing, script writing. The presentation is as good as the content. Compared to Rusty Buckets and those YTers. You're God himself.

[@glennweber9290]

Seriously, do one of these for each decade. This is a deep dive topic I love. Totally agree that the standard formula has always struck me as lacking. How else would Tim Duncan never have won one? Defense is sorely missing in today's game for a myriad of reasons, and it's nice to even recall a time in which it was a prized asset. The Bowens and Rodmans of the league wouldn't be allowed in today's league. There used to be more kinds of players in the NBA. Sadly today's players are a monocrop.

[@williamcorliss3664]

Just wanna help the video

[@lovinv08]

Thank u

[@cjc2010]

Spoiler alert: Big Ben won half of them and deservedly so.

[@WolverineIncognito]

2004: winning the championship was a nice consolation prize for Big Ben!

[@reimixo]

In 2001 you talked about Duncan and his team, Robinson avg more blocks and steals... Was 4th in the league in dws 2nd in dbpm 2nd in defensive rating 6th in block %...

[@keres9580]

W series

[@RetroKid]

Nice. I wonder how many Pip would get if/when you do the 90s

[@user-ny9dy9yg4f]

Agreed with everything, except for the Bowen award. The dirtiest player of the era, who tried to intentionally injure the best players of that time, doesn't deserve any award, only shame.

[@rowan6585]

What happened to the series you had with best of all time teams???

[@TheShadow84]

Ben Wallace still ended up with 4 😎💪🏾

[@aidangibbons4131]

Great video, I love that you're doing this series. Definitely think KG deserved the '08 award thoguh

[@jordansawers4679]

Can you do this for the 2010s I look forward to your opinion on those award winners as some are kinda controversial

[@jonnyarnett]

Yep, I'll definitely be doing each decade

[@shiloh2000]

When's your next all time team video?

[@dannybachner899]

Tim duncan still getting overlooked just like in real life lol

[@jonnyarnett]

Hey, at least I actually gave him one 😂

[@frizzyrascal1493]

The DPOY gets overshadowed way too much. The defense is actually my favorite part of the game. I love it when games get physical and each team has to work their asses off.

[@barleymepodcast2301]

Any video that acknowledges Camby’s greatness is obviously entirely true and correct

[@DS-rw5lv]

Big Ben was such a beast...god damn...

[@monstermonkey1352]

Do with it with oyher individual awards please; ROY, FMVP, 6MAN.

[@KennyFrierson]

Camby was really holding down that so so defense

[@AaronMichaelLong]

Centers also get the most MVP votes, too. It turns out being tall makes you better at basketball. Also, I don't know if I agree with your thesis that the person who posts the most defensive stats is the best defensive player. The problem is that much of what makes a good defender is very difficult to measure, and also you can be a great defender and still get scored on alot if your teammates aren't doing *their* jobs.

[@AaronMichaelLong]

That said, Marcus Camby is big-time underrated, and his trade to Denver for the corpse of Antonio McDyess was arguably the worst trade in Knicks franchise history.

[@um52]

The 04 pistons defense was like the 2000 Baltimore ravens. And Ben was the ray Lewis of the NBA. Average if not below average offense but invincible defense

[@lashajaunburnett-simmons1802]

Let’s goooo 💯

[@deonlepharaoh]

Just use defensive win share to easily choose the dpoy ...if its close between a few guys, then use defensive box plus minus to break a tie. I would do the same for offensive player of the year if there was an award for it using the offensive variation of those stats Without winning being a factor, then i would focus on players who defend top offensive players regularly and use base stats to determine winner

[@joelbenda1944]

We need a 2011-present asap

[@jameslucas3161]

8:20 6'9 Bill Russell standing next to 6'9 Ben Wallace. 🤔

[@nathanhennenfent1548]

Duncan never winning DPOY is an absolute crime.