Indiana Pacers: Who will challenge Myles Turner for DPOY?

Jan 25, 2021; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner (33) rebounds the ball over Toronto Raptors forward Chris Boucher (25) in the fourth quarter at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 25, 2021; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner (33) rebounds the ball over Toronto Raptors forward Chris Boucher (25) in the fourth quarter at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Anthony Davis – Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Anthony Davis – Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers

Big media will tell you Anthony Davis deserves the DPOY award this season because the Lakers are allowing just 104.5 points per game and are favorites to win the NBA Finals. Davis is an incredible talent but to say he is clearly a better defender than Myles Turner is absurd based on what we know right now.

Davis is fifth in the NBA in blocks per game but second in defensive rating and defensive win shares through a month. The only downside to this is that Turner has played in 15 games – one fewer than Davis – and has twice as many blocked shots and just one fewer steal.

It helps that Davis is on national TV almost every night playing alongside LeBron and the Lakers, so voters and casual fans get to see him whenever they wish. For Turner, national games are rare despite the Pacers always being in the playoffs. Indiana would not be anywhere close to where they are right now without the help of Myles Turner on the defensive end of the floor.

The media will impact this selection more than any other player if Davis does indeed win the award over Turner but that does not mean I think Davis isn’t at least deserving of consideration at this point.