The NBA announced its first Defensive Players of the Month for the 2024-25 season on Tuesday, honouring two young stars who have set the tone for their teams. Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes was named the Eastern Conference winner, while Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cason Wallace took home the Western Conference award for games played in October and November.
Scottie Barnes: A Historic First for the Raptors
Scottie Barnes has etched his name in the Toronto Raptors' record books by becoming the very first player from the franchise to receive the NBA's Defensive Player of the Month award. This honour, newly introduced for the 2024-25 campaign, highlights Barnes' transformative impact on the defensive end. His all-around brilliance has been a cornerstone for the Raptors' strong 14-7 start to the season.
The former Rookie of the Year has been a statistical marvel on defence. He stands as the only player in the entire NBA to have recorded at least 30 steals and 30 blocks so far this season. Barnes is also a constant disruptor, ranking fourth in the Eastern Conference with an average of 4.0 deflections per game, which places him tenth overall in the league.
His defensive heroics have directly translated to wins. A prime example came on November 17, when Barnes sealed a victory over the Charlotte Hornets with a clutch game-winning block at the buzzer. Anchoring a unit that boasts the NBA's sixth-best defensive rating (111.5), Barnes has been indispensable. Offensively, he continues to shine, averaging 19.9 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists through 21 games.
Cason Wallace: The Western Conference's Defensive Dynamo
In the Western Conference, Oklahoma City Thunder's Cason Wallace earned his first career Defensive Player of the Month honour. The guard has been a lockdown defender from the opening tip, starting all 20 games for the Thunder in this period.
Wallace's individual numbers are staggering. He currently leads the entire NBA in steals per game at 2.20. Furthermore, he tops the Western Conference in deflections, averaging an impressive 5.0 per contest. His relentless pressure has been a key driver behind the Thunder's elite defence, which holds the league's best defensive rating of 103.6—a full 7.0 points better than the next closest team.
Now in his third NBA season, the University of Kentucky product has expanded his role, contributing 8.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in 28.6 minutes per game while setting the defensive standard for his squad.
Setting a New Standard for Defence
The awards for Barnes and Wallace signal a shift towards recognising the defensive excellence of versatile, younger players. Both have been instrumental in propelling their teams to successful starts, proving that defence remains a critical pathway to victory in the modern NBA.
Barnes has broken new ground for the Raptors franchise, while Wallace has announced himself as one of the premier perimeter defenders in the league. Their recognition underscores the importance of defensive hustle, intelligence, and versatility, setting a high bar for the rest of the season as they aim to maintain their teams' competitive momentum.
