Offense takes undisputed priority over defense in modern basketball, which is why individual honors often go to the most electric scorers. Only one award makes an exception: Defensive Player of the Year, which recognizes the hard work that goes on at the other end of the court.
The League’s regular season is nearing the finish line, so let’s look at the top contenders for Mr. Defense 2017.
Suleiman Braimoh (Enisey)
Position: Forward
Braimoh is one of two players in the League (also Avtodor’s Vince Hunter) to rank in the top 20 in rebounds, steals and blocks. Unlike Hunter, however, Braimoh does even more on the defensive end than put up big numbers.
The recent game against VEF was a great example. The momentum in the game shifted when Braimoh took the court. He cemented Enisey’s defense, shut down Riga’s centers, pulled down several important rebounds and set a new personal season high for steals (5).
The Nigerian forward’s intensity has been a revelation all season. Braimoh shows no fear on the glass and goes after every loose ball, while hustling on fast breaks, that often start with one of his rebounds, steals or blocks.
Braimoh’s progress is one of the key reasons Enisey’s defense has improved over the course of the season. In the first half of the season, Enisey gave up 90 or more points in half of its games. But since then, only Zenit has been able to crack the 90-point barrier against Krasnoyarsk.
Suleiman Braimoh’s Stats in the VTB League
Kevin Jones (Lokomotiv-Kuban)
Position: Center
Defense has been a trademark of Kuban’s throughout the season with the club averaging a League-best 70 points allowed per game.
Playing alongside multiple defensive stars, Kevin Jones manages to stand out, even though he’s the opposite of flash. Jones, for example, only has one block in 19 games.
But he makes up for it with old-fashioned hard work. Jones does an enormous amount of the dirty work, provides smart help defense and adds quickness and aggression to Kuban’s defense. Plus, he’s very good at reading the game. With his knack for positioning, he pulls down a lot of rebounds and ranks near the top in field-goal percentage (58.2%).
Nikita Kurbanov (CSKA)
Position: Forward
Last season, Kurbanov was overshadowed by Kyle Hines. But now he looks like the frontrunner for Defensive Player of the Year. The Russian swingman is enjoying one of the best seasons of his career, especially on defense.
A year ago, he started a trend of mobile small forwards that are able to defend in the paint, out on the perimeter and break up pick-and-rolls. Plenty of teams have someone like that on the roster now, but no one’s been able to match the original yet.
Kurbanov continues to be one of Europe’s top individual defenders. Dimitris Itoudis regularly puts him on the opponent’s most dangerous player and Nikita responds. He’s also reliable on the glass, ranking among CSKA’s top rebounders (4.5). But the +/- rating is probably the best evidence of his utility. The Army Man is top-3 in the League (+12.8), even though he plays only 17 minutes per game at CSKA.
Janis Timma (Zenit)
Position: Forward
St. Petersburg’s biggest weapon is the team’s full-throttle offense. The club averages 91 points per game, trailing only CSKA in that category. Zenit has put together a dangerous attacking team with several stars that fit perfectly in Vasily Karasev’s system.
But it’s hard to win titles in Europe with offense alone. Finding the balance between defense and offense is one of the biggest challenges for Zenit’s coaching staff. Luckily, they’ve got an ace in the hole with Janis Timma.
The Latvian forward has been overshadowed some by Sergey Karasev this season, but he remains an indispensable part of the team, especially on defense. Unlike the offense-minded Toolson and Karasev, Timma can make an impact on both ends. Alongside Markovic and Mbakwe, Timma is a key element of the defense.
Looking at the stats, Zenit’s recent game in Khimki illustrates Timma’s value. When he was on the court, the visitors’ defensive efficiency was vastly superior.
Timma also made the Top 10 Plays of the Week with this block on Jacob Pullen.
Kyle Hines (CSKA)
Position: Center
Last season, Hines won Defensive Player of the Year in the VTB League and he would love to repeat.
It won’t be easy given the competition. But Hines continues to perform at a high level, ranking in the top 20 in blocks (0.6 per game) and +/- rating (+7.6). His enviable athleticism, which combines power with quickness, allows him to battle big men under the basket and slow down backcourt players on the perimeter.
With his combination of physique and intelligence, Hines is one of the best defensive players in Europe. That’s no different in the VTB League, where the American has played at a high level, helping CSKA to another outstanding regular season campaign.
