Raptors forward O.G. Anunoby has a case for Defensive Player of the Year and Most Improved Player in the early stages of the season, Imman Adan and Katie Heindl analyze which has a better chance to come to fruition. Listen to the full episode on the “Raptors Over Everything” podcast feed or watch on our YouTube.
Video Transcript
IMMAN ADAN: Last question on OG I’m going to ask you before we close this up. We’ll just talk a little bit Cavs right after this. OG– do you think he has a better case for DPOY or MIP?
KATIE HEINDL: I mean, in my– like, what we’re talking about, the MIP, I think, is maybe an outsider perspective perhaps because it’s like, he, I think, has been developing at this rate season over season his entire career. It’s just he hasn’t had these great stretches to flourish.
IMMAN ADAN: Yeah.
KATIE HEINDL: Or maybe just, like, the spotlight on him at the moments he has been flourishing, I would say too.
IMMAN ADAN: That’s a lot of what MIP is, to be quite honest. It is a narrative-based– most NBA awards are narrative-based awards. Yeah.
KATIE HEINDL: Yeah, so I think more defensive player of the year, but I wonder if, just because of what we’re saying about it, yeah, it is kind of a narrative-based award, and the defensive player of the year category is always a pretty stacked category. Not to say he’s not up for it and hasn’t been playing like he’s up for it. But it might be– he’s more deserving of defensive player of the year, I think, candidacy. But now I’m like, have I talked myself into getting the most improved?
IMMAN ADAN: See, see, that’s exactly where I’m at with it. I think he is only in the running for Mitt because DPOY is so stacked. But here’s my take. He is the defensive player of the year.
Like, I don’t want a consolation prize, which is what I’m going to be treating MIP as for OG Anunoby. And I also think that, like, I don’t know what the criteria for MIP is anymore after Ja Morant won it. I don’t think you can be the second overall pick and still win MIP in your third season. Like, you’re not even done your rookie contract, and still?
KATIE HEINDL: Yeah, what’s the model that you’re improving on?
IMMAN ADAN: Isn’t this just, like, called a natural progression? Like, isn’t this what’s expected? So I have no idea what the new rubric is for becoming MIP, but I do know that DPOY, it’s pretty obvious what the criteria is for that, and it’s being the best defender in the league.
And I think that OG has really made his…