The Backbone of the Knicks Defense

At the backbone of the Knicks defense lies a presence that has been immeasurable to their success, that presence is Nerlens Noel. So the case for his leap from backup center to Defensive Player of the Year is unquestionable in my eyes. Earlier in the year, the Knicks lost starting center Mitchell Robinson to a broken hand. Robinson briefly returned only to fracture his foot a couple of games later. These injuries opened the door for Noel’s path to success.

Defense: Statistically Speaking

If you break down Noel’s numbers, you will see how valuable an asset he is statistically speaking. On the year, Noel is averaging 6.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.7 steals, and 2.2 blocks per game. As a result, Noel is currently ranked fourth in the league in blocks per game. Noel is also currently ranked second in the league in defensive box +/-. This is a metric that is calculated based solely on defensive statistics.

A Long Journey

It’s been a long journey for Noel to get where he is today. When drafted by the 76ers with the sixth overall pick back in 2013, the team had very high hopes for him. Sadly, he never received a fair opportunity with Philadelphia as a year later, they drafted Joel Embiid. Two years later they drafted Jahlil Okafor. It seemed that Noel was never going to get his chance with this team. In 2017 the 76ers traded Noel to the Dallas Mavericks for Andrew Bogut and a first-round pick. Noel never found his footing with Dallas and soon after signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2018. After a two-year stint with the Thunder, the now 27-year-old journeyman center signed a one-year deal with the New York Knicks.

Is Noel the Future?

After watching Noel’s latest five block performance against the Chicago Bulls, one must wonder, is Noel the center of the future? One must wonder that at 27 years old is Noel a part of their future? He’s four years older than the more athletically gifted Robinson, but Noel’s defensive abilities make one think it might be time to move on from Robinson, especially after fracturing his foot.

Defensive Player of the Year?

Yes, Noel is without a question a candidate if not the Defensive Player of the Year. His defensive prowess has helped to catapult the Knicks to the fourth seed and was critical in their most recent nine-game winning streak. Without Noel anchoring their defense, the Knicks would not be the third-best defensive team in the league. Come check out all the highlights and latest sports news on www.bellyupsports.com.

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