Who Won the 2013 NBA Defensive Player of the Year and How Did They Dominate?
I still remember watching that 2013 NBA season like it was yesterday, and let me tell you, the defensive battles were absolutely incredible. When people ask me who won the 2013 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, I always get excited to talk about Marc Gasol's remarkable season. The Memphis Grizzlies' center wasn't just good that year - he was historically dominant in ways that casual fans might not fully appreciate. What made his achievement even more impressive was that he became the first player in Grizzlies franchise history to win this prestigious award, and honestly, he completely deserved it.
Looking back at the voting results, Gasol received 212 points and 30 first-place votes, edging out LeBron James who got 149 points and 18 first-place votes. Now, I know some people argued that LeBron was more valuable defensively, but having watched nearly every Grizzlies game that season, I can tell you Gasol's impact was something special. His defensive rating of 97.6 points allowed per 100 possessions was simply phenomenal, and he anchored the league's second-stingiest defense that surrendered only 89.3 points per game. The Grizzlies finished 56-26 that season, and much of their success stemmed from their defensive identity that Gasol personified every single night.
What really stood out to me about Gasol's defensive mastery was how he revolutionized the center position defensively. At 7'1" and 265 pounds, he had the size to protect the rim, but his basketball IQ and positioning were what made him extraordinary. He averaged 1.7 blocks and 1.0 steals per game - decent numbers, but they don't tell the whole story. The way he directed Memphis's defense, his ability to read plays before they developed, and his knack for being exactly where he needed to be made him the quarterback of that defense. I've studied countless defensive players over the years, and Gasol's spatial awareness ranks among the best I've ever seen.
His impact reminds me of that phrase from the reference material: "But what's the good in all these if you're Creamline? The league's winningest team has seen this film before." That's exactly how opponents must have felt facing Gasol and the Grizzlies - they knew what was coming, they'd studied the tape, but they still couldn't solve the defensive puzzle. Game after game, teams would try to attack Memphis in the paint only to find Gasol waiting, perfectly positioned to disrupt their plans. He made the entire defense better, and his communication skills ensured everyone was on the same page defensively. I remember specifically watching him against the Spurs in the Western Conference Finals that year, and how he completely disrupted Tim Duncan and Tony Parker's pick-and-roll game through sheer anticipation and positioning.
The beauty of Gasol's defensive approach was that he didn't rely on athleticism alone. Unlike some shot-blockers who chase highlights, Gasol understood team defense principles at a profound level. He knew when to challenge shots and when to stay grounded, when to help and when to stay home. His footwork in defending pick-and-roll situations was textbook perfect - he could hedge, recover, and protect the rim all in one possession. Having played organized basketball myself at the collegiate level, I can appreciate how difficult it is to maintain that level of defensive discipline over an 82-game season. Gasol made it look effortless, but trust me, what he was doing required tremendous mental and physical stamina.
Statistics only tell part of the story, but they're worth examining. The Grizzlies allowed 5.2 fewer points per 100 possessions with Gasol on the court compared to when he sat. That's a massive difference that underscores his value. Opponents shot just 48.3% within six feet of the basket when Gasol was the primary defender - one of the best marks in the league that season. He contested 10.3 shots per game while committing only 2.7 personal fouls, demonstrating his clean yet effective defensive technique. These numbers might seem dry to some fans, but to basketball purists like myself, they're poetry in motion.
What I particularly admired about Gasol's defensive philosophy was how he prioritized team success over individual accolades. He never gambled for steals or blocks if it meant compromising the team's defensive structure. This selfless approach created a defensive culture in Memphis that lasted for years after his DPOY season. When I think about modern defensive greats, Gasol's name doesn't always come up in casual conversations, but among coaches and basketball analysts, he's revered as one of the smartest defensive players of his generation. His ability to defend both traditional post players and modern stretch bigs made him uniquely valuable in an era of transitioning offensive styles.
Reflecting on that 2013 season, I believe Gasol's Defensive Player of the Year award represented something larger than individual achievement - it symbolized the resurgence of team-oriented defense in an increasingly offensive-minded league. While offensive highlights grab headlines, Gasol proved that disciplined, intelligent defense could still dictate games and series outcomes. The Grizzlies' "Grit and Grind" identity perfectly encapsulated his approach to the game, and honestly, as someone who values fundamental basketball, it was refreshing to watch. Even today, when I analyze modern defensive stalwarts, I find myself comparing them to Gasol's 2013 masterpiece of a season. His victory wasn't just about being the best defender that year - it was a celebration of basketball intelligence, positioning, and the underappreciated art of team defense.
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Looking to the Future
By 2022, we will establish a pilot for circularity at our Goonoo feedlot that builds on our current initiatives in water, manure and local sourcing. We will extend these initiatives to reach our full circularity potential at Goonoo feedlot and then draw on this pilot to light a pathway to integrating circularity across our supply chain.
The quality of our product and ongoing health of our business is intrinsically linked to healthy and functioning ecosystems. We recognise our potential to play our part in reversing the decline in biodiversity, building soil health and protecting key ecosystems in our care. This theme extends on the core initiatives and practices already embedded in our business including our sustainable stocking strategy and our long-standing best practice Rangelands Management program, to a more a holistic approach to our landscape.
We are the custodians of a significant natural asset that extends across 6.4 million hectares in some of the most remote parts of Australia. Building a strong foundation of condition assessment will be fundamental to mapping out a successful pathway to improving the health of the landscape and to drive growth in the value of our Natural Capital.
Our Commitment
We will work with Accounting for Nature to develop a scientifically robust and certifiable framework to measure and report on the condition of natural capital, including biodiversity, across AACo’s assets by 2023. We will apply that framework to baseline priority assets by 2024.
Looking to the Future
By 2030 we will improve landscape and soil health by increasing the percentage of our estate achieving greater than 50% persistent groundcover with regional targets of:
– Savannah and Tropics – 90% of land achieving >50% cover
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