AP Photo/Steven Senne
The NBA's Defensive Player of the Year is going back to the perimeter for the first time since 1996.
Marcus Smart of the Boston Celtics became the first guard in over a decade to win the award when he was named the league's top defender for the 2021-22 campaign.
Bleacher Report @BleacherReportMarcus Smart is the 2021-22 NBA DPOY 🔐
The first guard to win the award since Gary Payton pic.twitter.com/nror3GraOM
The league shared the voting breakdown with Smart taking home 37 first-place votes and defeating fellow finalist Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz.
NBA Communications @NBAPRMarcus Smart is the first guard to be named NBA Defensive Player of the Year since Gary Payton in the 1995-96 season. Smart is also the second player to win the award with the @celtics, joining Kevin Garnett (2007-08).
More ➡️ https://t.co/Y4VQicGkiq
Full voting results ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/9WX2L25o4M
The Utah Jazz big man is in the middle of an individual defensive dynasty and has become a surprise winner of the award.
He won the award three times and is a five-time All-Defensive selection.
Smart broke a long run of big men that included Antetokounmpo.
He was presented with the award by some defensive royalty.
Since the Celtics selected him with the No. 6 overall pick of the NBA draft, Smart has been known for his defense. The two-time All-Defensive selection averaged 1.7 steals per game this season and consistently guards the opponent's best ball-handler or wing threat on a nightly basis.
The pressure is off Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, who have more offensive responsibilities.
Smart's ability to challenge outside looks and quickly rotate when needed helped his opponents shoot less from three-point range when he guarded them this season.
He had a career-best 3.7 defensive wins share total.
Smart can now add a Defensive Player of the Year to his resume as he looks to help guide the Celtics past the Brooklyn Nets in the first round and toward a deep playoff run.
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