Curious what his defensive ceiling is. DPOY depends a lot on team success and optics - and typically, the winner is the big man who anchors an elite team defense. The exceptions since 2000 have been Kawhi (twice) and Metta World Peace. Last guard who won DPOY was Gary Payton in 1995-96. You can see the list since 2000 below (basketball-reference.com)
Smart received fourth-most points for All-Defense and 4 3rd-place DPOY votes.
I think the (narrow) path for Smart as DPOY is:
- Celtics top-5 team defense
- Smart as starting PG
- Reputation for hustle, harassment, switchability, and general terror overshadows reputation as flopper
- Celtics are a clear playoff team
2018-19 Rudy Gobert
2017-18 Rudy Gobert
2016-17 Draymond Green
2015-16 Kawhi Leonard
2014-15 Kawhi Leonard
2013-14 Joakim Noah
2012-13 Marc Gasol
2011-12 Tyson Chandler
2010-11 Dwight Howard
2009-10 Dwight Howard
2008-09 Dwight Howard
2007-08 Kevin Garnett
2006-07 Marcus Camby
2005-06 Ben Wallace
2004-05 Ben Wallace
2003-04 Metta World Peace
2002-03 Ben Wallace
2001-02 Ben Wallace
2000-01 Dikembe Mutombo
1999-00 Alonzo Mourning