So, Ben is DPOY. Not sure I agree with him getting the award, as he's already gotten it twice and it would be nice if someone else is recognized. I'm not arguing that he's not the DPOY though.

Ben's numbers:
5th in blocks
2nd in rebounds
23rd in steals


So, I think it would be nice if other players are recognized for outstanding defense--in particular, the most underrated player in the NBA, Shawn Marion.

Shawn's numbers:
3rd in rebounds
4th in steals
2.3 bpg so far in playoffs (1.5 regular season)
height: 6'7"

This man is the Suns' entire defensive presense. On top of all that, he's still a force on offense.

How many small forwards playing in the power forward position have made this much of an impact for a team on defense? This guy deserves as much recognition as Ben.

Reggie Miller should have won it

You beat me to it you bastard!

He's really just lucky. After all, he's a Piston.

What team are you a fan of again?

Honestly, it probably should have been Reggie Miller, though, if you think about it...

...With him running off all those screens on offense, the guy guarding him probably gets really really tired and frustrated chasing him around. Then that guy is tired when his team has the ball and can't do much, so...if you look at it that way, Reggie plays GREAT defense.

in fifteen years, the award will be named after this man....

Andre could sure use a better jersey # than 9. I hate the number 9.

Might be kinda' cool though if some sick hoopster (maybe Gerald Green this year...or Marvin Williams) came into the league and wore some crazy number like 83. That would be tight.

I know I know...some of the bigger guys wear high numbers, but when was the last time there was a really flashy, athletic, all-around great player who could drive, shoot, dunk, handle, pass etc. that wore a really high, unheard of #? I'm looking forward to it.

And what's with the sweatband around the calf? I love Iguodala...but this has to stop.

i may be wrong, but doesn't each digit of a unifrom # have to be 5 or below?

Dennis Rodman was 91. So is Ron Artest.

yep, i was wrong.

only in high school and college basketball

Yeah, I know...Drew Gooden is 90. Francisco Elson is 56. Shawn Bradley was 76 for awhile...There are some random high ones...but none of those players are the type of players I'm talking about.

Artest is the closest to a great all-around player, but I think he's more recognized as a head case than anything else.

I'm talking about a do-it-all player who scores a ton of points and is really fun to watch...ie - Dwyane Wade, etc. I guarantee you that if a player like that decided to wear something like 72, people would talk about it alot.

im convinced in 20 years, the Celtics wont have any numbers available under #39. how many numbers do they have retired already? 30???

Same with UNC it seems like. And college #'s are way more limited.

Artest averaged 18 points per game the year he won the D-P-of-the-Y award. If he wouldnt have went into the stands he may have been this years MVP. He had like 24 points per game this year, I think he played in 7 games.

I agree. Plus I was lucky enough to have him on my fantasy team this year.

Ben Wallace plays Center and he is only 6'9". He has to defend someone who is taller than him every night. Wallace just out works everyone else. It's the only way he knows. I'm sure some of you know this but he went to a divsion 2 school (Virginia Southern) and was undrafted. Ben has very little natural ability he works his ass off to be the player that he is. Watch him when he switches off his guy to an Iverson or someone small and quick. He is so quick he can defend anyone on the court. I don't know how the hell Artest stole Ben's award last year but it's back where it belongs.

Should have gone to Reggie Miller.