NBA: Bold award predictions for the 2018-19 season

Defensive Player of the Year: Anthony Davis

With a healthy Kawhi Leonard in Toronto and reigning award winner Rudy Gobert in Utah, Anthony Davis is certainly a dark horse. But if last year’s highlights are any indication as to what we can expect this season, he’s got a legitimate shot.

At 6-foot-10, Davis averaged an impressive 1.5 steals per game last season, to go along with a league leading 2.6 blocks a night. He’ll have to mirror those numbers in addition to playing shutdown defense against marquee matchups to make a case in the minds of voters.

And with DeMarcus Cousins now in Golden State, all eyes will be on AD in New Orleans. This could be the perfect storm for him to show out and have a season for the record books.