Chet Holmgren May Get A 'Miracle' Shot At DPOY

Of course, the numbers don’t always tell the story. Wembanyama has more blocks per game at 3.1 to Holmgren’s 1.9. But hey, the OKC big man is denying a lot of shots at the rim. That’s worth comparing to Wemby’s “never mind,” where he forces the offense to reconsider attacking him in the paint. On the flip side, Holmgren’s defense often contests attackers, and he has a strong knack for blocking shots.

Holmgren may not be the first choice to win the DPOY, but he’s certainly proving his case with the way the Thunder leads the league. Not only do they have the best record in the NBA, but they also boast the best defensive rating in the league at 106.

That’s way better than Detroit’s 108.8, which is the best in the Eastern Conference. It’s also putting up better defense than Wembanyama’s Spurs at 110.2. If you are not impressed, Holmgren also leads the NBA in the same department at 102.6, and Wemby is at third with 103.2.

Wemby’s Uncertain Case Vs Holmgren’s DPOY Shot

For the whole season, Wembanyama has been the favorite to win DPOY. However, not any of his massive feats matter if he’s not going to reach the 65-game minimum. Fans are complaining about this requirement, especially with more players getting injuries at this point. Wemby isn’t an exception to that. He’s missed a number of games, and so has Holmgren. However, as of the time of writing, the Spurs center is one game away from being eligible, albeit with a health issue. Holmgren, on the other hand, may consider sitting out the final few games of the season with his 68th game.

Wembanyama was running away with the Defensive Player of the Year last season, had it not been for his injuries. He was leading the DPOY race and could have been worth considering for the award. After playing 46 games last season, the Spurs shut him down for good, allowing him to recover. On the other hand, Holmgren dealt with an injury of his own and ended up missing 50 games. He also had a strong case for DPOY, as he had a strong defensive stretch at that time.

Uncertainties are very common, especially with injuries lurking around. Wemby has to play at least one more game to be eligible for the DPOY award. He can only afford to miss one of the final three games of the season. Missing more than that means he’s out for consideration of the individual awards. Now that’s a waste of what has been a majestic season for him. Unless Luka Doncic‘s plea for extraordinary consideration is passed, then Wembanyama should get that exception, too. For the MVP, however, it’s clear that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander may be walking away with his second in a row.

Holmgren’s DPOY Chances Is Based On Availability

Aside from all the numbers and talks, availability is keeping Holmgren’s DPOY case afloat. He’s grinding in games where the Thunder should have been resting its players. His defense is stunning opponents night in and night out, and he’s getting better. There’s just a lot of expectations for the Gonzaga product that he’ll be anchoring this OKC squad to another league title. His defense has been at its best this season, and we are seeing him prove his worth on the biggest stage.

With the 65-game rule in place, Holmgren’s DPOY chances aren’t that bad. But it solely rests on Wemby missing out two out of the final three games that the Spurs will have to play. Availability is the best ability, and no one is expecting the DPOY or any other individual awards to go down to this. However, if Wembanyama ends up missing the final games for San Antonio, Holmgren definitely deserves to take home the Defensive Player of the Year honors for this season.