Overview
- After missing two games, he played 13 straight in January and averaged 8.2 defensive rebounds and 2.2 blocks, both ranking second in the West for the month.
- During that stretch, San Antonio recorded a 107.5 defensive rating, best in the Western Conference.
- Per Spurs PR, he was the West’s only player to reach 100+ rebounds, 25+ blocks and 10+ steals in January while averaging 27.7 minutes.
- To remain eligible for season-ending awards such as Defensive Player of the Year, he must appear in 30 of the Spurs’ final 33 games.
- Detroit’s Ausar Thompson won the Eastern Conference honor after a 10–4 month in which the Pistons led the NBA with a 104.8 defensive rating.