LeBron James’ 2012-13 NBA season was historic, leading the Miami Heat to a 66-16 record and securing his second consecutive MVP award, the fourth of his career. But a chance to make it even more historic by winning Defensive Player of the Year alongside the MVP slipped away when the award went to Memphis Grizzlies big man Marc Gasol.
LeBron’s loss to Gasol was controversial. Back then, media voted for Defensive Player of the Year, while coaches selected the All-Defensive Teams. Interestingly, LeBron made the All-Defensive First Team, while Gasol only made the Second Team.
To add to the controversy, the voting for All-Defensive First Team resulted in a tie between Tyson Chandler and Joakim Noah, creating a six-player First Team. This meant there were two centers ahead of Gasol, who many believed deserved the DPOY title.
This remains LeBron’s closest shot at Defensive Player of the Year, a coveted accolade still missing from his trophy vault. Even a decade later, LeBron apparently still can’t wrap his head around the fact that Gasol won the DPOY over him.
“The year I finished 2nd… the guy who won Defensive Player of the Year didn’t even make 1st Team All-Defense.”
“It don’t make sense.” @KingJames talks about the one award he hasn’t won and why it still stings in an all-new episode of #TheShop – dropping this Thursday. pic.twitter.com/Rqh4L7fQ2L
— The Shop (@TheShopUN) April 16, 2024
