The San Antonio Spurs' Kawhi Leonard, who became only the sixth forward to lead the NBA in steals per game since the league started tracking the statistic 42 years ago, is the recipient of the 2014-15 Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award, the NBA announced today.
He becomes the first Spurs player to win the award since David Robinson in 1991-92.
Leonard garnered 37 first-place votes and 333 total points from a panel of 129 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada. He edged the Golden State Warriors' Draymond Green, who tallied 45 first-place votes and 317 points. The Los Angeles Clippers' DeAndre Jordan finished third with 261 points (32 first-place votes).
2014-15 Kia NBA Defensive Player Of The Year Voting Results| P. | PLAYER | TEAM | POINTS |
|---|
| 1. | KAWHI LEONARD | Spurs | 333 (37) |
| 2. | Draymond Green | Warriors | 317 (45) |
| 3. | DeAndre Jordan | Clippers | 261 (32) |
| 4. | Anthony Davis | Pelicans | 107 (11) |
| 5. | Rudy Gobert | Jazz | 33 (2) |
| 6. | Andrew Bogut | Warriors | 31 |
| 7. | Tony Allen | Grizzlies | 29 (1) |
| 8. | Tim Duncan | Spurs | 12 (1) |
| 9. | Michael Kidd-Gilchrist | Hornets | 9 |
| 10. | Jimmy Butler | Bulls | 7 |
| --- | Marc Gasol | Grizzlies | 7 |
| 12. | Joakim Noah | Bulls | 4 |
| 13. | LeBron James | cavaliers | 3 |
| --- | Trevor Ariza | Rockets | 3 |
| 15. | Patrick Beverley | Rockets | 1 |
| --- | DeMarre Carroll | Hawks | 1 |
| --- | Nerlens Noel | Sixers | 1 |
| --- | Chris Paul | Clippers | 1 |
| --- | Hassan Whiteside | Heat | 1 |