The last time a guard won the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year award was Gary Payton in 1996. That should put in perspective just how outstanding a guard has to be on the defensive end of the floor to win Defensive Player of the Year.
Former Oklahoma State Cowboy Marcus Smart broke the 26 year streak when he was named the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year for the 2021-22 season on Monday night. Smart averaged 1.7 steals-per-game and finished the regular season with a sparkling 107.1 defensive rating.
Smart is one of two former Oklahoma State Cowboys nominated for a performance award for the 2021-22 NBA season.