With the NBA playoffs now underway, with Game 1 in every series in both conferences being played, the league is starting to announce the winners for regular-season awards, like Defensive Player of the Year.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Memphis Grizzlies star Jaren Jackson Jr. has come out on top in the voting for the regular-season award.
Memphis Grizzlies C/F Jaren Jackson Jr. has won the 2022-23 NBA Defensive Player of the Year award.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 17, 2023
Here are some fan reactions to the news that Jackson has won the regular-season award for best defensive player:
Art. pic.twitter.com/03LmhPKcQl
— Omar Siddiqi (@osid24) April 17, 2023
Love this announcement before game 2 pic.twitter.com/3mHVyM0vFn
— 🏆LakersGuru🏆 (@GuruLakers) April 17, 2023
— SportsGrid (@SportsGrid) April 17, 2023
Mobely robbed pic.twitter.com/33tTfQv9yd
— Joshua Terry (@_joshuaterry) April 17, 2023
AD: pic.twitter.com/6rrCOdAQWr
— KINGDOM (@Kingdom_Soldier) April 17, 2023
Throughout most of the 2022-23 NBA regular season, Jackson was considered the frontrunner for Defensive Player of the Year, with only a handful of players making a case to be in the conversation.
Jackson is currently facing the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the NBA playoffs, with the Grizzlies coming off a disappointing loss in which the team saw Ja Morant go down with a potential season-ending hand injury.
The reigning Defensive Player of the Year will have to shoulder the load in the absence of Morant, and winning this award might give the added confidence to help lead his team to a win in Game 2.
Brook Lopez of the Milwaukee Bucks and Cleveland Cavaliers’ up-and-comer Evan Mobley were the two other finalists for Defensive Player of the Year.
Lopez received 31 first-place votes, while Mobley ended up with eight; Jackson ultimately won the award, receiving 56 first-place votes.
Other players that received first-place votes include Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors (3), Bam Adebayo of the Miami Heat (1) and Philadelphia 76ers superstar Joel Embiid (1).
NEXT: Ja Morant Opens Up On His Latest Injury Setback