NBA.com released the results of its annual GM survey today in which all 30 GMs responded to 57 questions. One of the questions was "Who is the best perimeter defender in the NBA?" Tony Allen received the majority of the votes with 26.9 percent, while Rajon Rondo, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, Arron Afflalo, Shane Battier, Luol Deng, Luc Mbah a Moute, Tayshaun Prince and Dwyane Wade all received votes. Notice one name isn't on the list of players receiving votes: Andre Iguodala.
That's right, not a single NBA GM voted for Andre Iguodala as the game's best perimeter defender. The same Andre Iguodala who anchors the league's best defensive team. The same Andre Iguodala whose team's defense is noticeably more effective when he's on the court, as opposed to off. The same Andre Iguodala who holds opposing small forwards to a PER of 8.2 when the league average is 15.0. The same Andre Iguodala who leads the entire NBA in defensive win shares.
It's not just this season either. Iguodala was named to the 2010-11 NBA All-Defensive Second Team last season, his shutdown perimeter defense played a huge role in Team USA's 2010 FIBA World Championship, and our friend Brian, from Depressed Fan, did a phenomenal job documenting Iguodala's dominant defense last February.
You can make an argument that Iguodala isn't the best perimeter defender in the league, and that's fine, but I can make a damn good argument that you're wrong. Either way, the fact that he received ZERO votes from NBA GMs for 'best perimeter defender' is an absolute crime.
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