Photo by Luther Schlaifer/NBAE via Getty Images As Rudy Gobert wins his fourth DPOY award, Big Perk gives a shout to his top 5 NBA defensive players Rudy Gobert won his fourth NBA Defensive Player of the Year award, tying him with Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace as the only players to be named for four. Ironically, the award is named in honor of Hakeem Olajuwon, who (only) won it twice. Olajuwon, along with Sidney Moncrief, Mark Eaton, Dennis Rodman, Alonzo Mourning, and Kawhi Leonard are all two-time recipients. Even Dwight Howard won it three times. Kendrick Perkins celebrated the occasion by unveiling Big Perk’s Big List of Big Time Defenders. His top 5 included (5) Gary Payton (1996 DPOY) (4) Kevin Garnett (2008) (3) Michael Jordan (1988) (2) Dennis Rodman (1990, 1991), and (1) Ben Wallace (2002, 2003, 2005, 2006) 
No Mutombo...no Olajuwon...no Gobert. Perkins went so far as to call Ben Wallace the greatest undrafted player in history. https://www.youtube.com/embed/t91_r6LH2mw?rel=0
The DPOY is not a science. But from a Spurs perspective, Wemby scored second highest to Gobert. Perhaps voters didn’t want to honor a rookie in that role. Either way, Victor is poised to win it multiple times in his career. Gobert, his fellow countryman, says the award will be in “good hands” when (“if”) Wembanyama is awarded in the future. As for Perk’s list, do you agree? Who would you add/omit from the Top 5? Welcome to the Thread. Join in the conversation, start your own discussion, and share your thoughts. This is the Spurs community, your Spurs community. Thanks for being here. Our community guidelines apply which should remind everyone to be cool, avoid personal attacks, not to troll and to watch the language.
Source: https://www.poundingtherock.com/2024/5/ ... dan-rodman