dwight howard has the most nba defensive player of the year awards from the same team.
dwight howard has the most nba defensive player of the year awards from the same team.
who has the most nba defensive player of the year awards from the same team?
dwight howard
the , mutombo played center, where he was regarded as one of the top inside defenders of all time. nicknamed "mt. mutombo", his combination of height, power, and long arms led to a record-tying four nba defensive player of the year awards, a feat equaled only by ben wallace. mutombo was among the top three players in defensive player of the year voting for nine consecutive seasons from 1994 to 2002. staples of mutombo's defensive prowess were his outstanding shot-blocking and rebounding power: for his career, he averaged 2.8 blocks and 10.3 rebounds per game. he is second all-time in registered blocks, behind only hakeem olajuwon, and is the 21st most prolific rebounder ever. he was also an eight-time all-star and was elected into three all-nba and six all-defensive teams. along with his defensive prowess, mutombo also contributed offensively, averaging at least 10 points per game until he reached age 35.
dikembe mutombo
although five of the first six winners were perimeter players, the award has traditionally been given to big men who rebound and block shots. only seven perimeter players have been honored: moncrief, alvin robertson, michael cooper, michael jordan, gary payton, ron artest (known now as metta world peace), and kawhi leonard. payton is the only point guard to have won. jordan, olajuwon, david robinson, and kevin garnett are the only defensive player of the year winners to have won the nba most valuable player award (mvp) during their careers; jordan and olajuwon won both awards in the same season. in olajuwon's case, he is the only one to have also won the bill russell nba finals most valuable player award and the nba championship in the same season. on four occasions, the defensive player of the year recipient was not voted to the nba all-defensive first team in the same year. robertson in 1986, mutombo (1995), tyson chandler (2012), and marc gasol (2013) were instead named to the second team. whereas the defensive player of the year is voted on by the media, the all-defensive teams were voted on by nba coaches prior to 2014.
nba defensive player of the year award