NBA 2017-18: 5 Defensive Player of the Year candidates

#4 Giannis Antetokounmpo

Giannis Antetokounmpo (Image courtesy: NBA.com)

Giannis Antetokounmpo has improved in every category (points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks) through his first four seasons in the league. A strong candidate to win multiple MVP awards, if the Bucks keep their current culture going over the course of his prime, Antetokounmpo could be a strong dark horse candidate this year.

Major reasons for his success across the boards in all stat categories are his ball handling abilities at his height and his insane wingspan. And it's not just about recording numbers, his impact on the floor has been a net positive and is resulting in wins for the team.

Last season, he averaged 1.9 blocks (6th in the league) and 1.6 steals (11th) per game. When it comes to defensive rating, he ranks 11th in the league but there only four wing players ahead of him. In terms of Defensive Plus/Minus, he's already among the top guys in the league, ranking fourth.

So, in major defensive categories, he's either in the top-tier of the league or within sniffing distance of the top guys. And given the jumps, he takes each year, expects another one which will bolster his case this upcoming season.