Report: Grizzlies center Marc Gasol to be named Defensive Player of the Year

Grizzlies forward Marc Gasol will reportedly be named NBA Defensive Player of the Year. (Jonathan Daniel/NBA/Getty Images)

Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol will be named NBA Defensive Player of the Year, reports CBSSports.com.

The report was first attributed to Chris Vernon, a Memphis radio show host. 

The Grizzlies are one of basketball's better defensive teams, even if Gasol's numbers doesn't show up in the stat sheet. He averaged 1.7 blocks a game, compared to Oklahoma City Thunder big man Serge Ibaka, who at three blocks a game led the league in that category. The Grizzlies allowed 99.3 points per 100 possessions and gave 89.5 points per contest.

Gasol averaged 14.1 points, 7.8 rebounds and four assists a contest for the Grizzlies, who are down 1-0 in their first round playoff series with the Los Angeles Clippers.