The NBA announced the players chosen to the All-Defensive teams. The usual names were on the list such as Giannis Antetokounmpo and Paul George who made the defensive first team and players like Joel Embiid and Kawhi Leonard who made second team.
However, as I continued to look through the list it appeared that one name was missing. A name that led the NBA this season in blocks (197 to be exact); this player is Myles Turner of the Indiana Pacers.
Turner lost out on all defensive first team by Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz who was second in blocks for the season. Typically, the player leading in blocks makes first team, which makes sense. Raptors’ forward Serge Ibaka made first team All-Defense the last three years, while also being the league leader in blocks.
Turner took to Twitter this afternoon to express his disappointment.
Just considering each player stats you can see why Myles Turner called the snub disrespectful. Yes, Turner did miss a few more games than Gobert, but he led in blocks as well as the fact that his field goal percentage is above average compared to many centers.
In the end, this snub should give him the drive for next season to become even more of a standout. So that the moment names are being tossed around for All-Defensive first team his name will be first without a doubt.
