Kawhi Leonard wins NBA Defensive Player of the Year

San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard was named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year on Thursday.

Leonard won the award even though he didn’t have the most first-place votes. He is the first Spurs player to win the award since David Robinson won it in 1991-92. He beat Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green and Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan for the award. Leonard had 333 points and 37 first place votes, while Green was second with 317 points and 45 first-place votes, and Jordan was third with 261 points and 32 first-place votes, according to ESPN. New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis was fourth with 107 points and 11 first-place votes.

Injuries limited Leonard to just 64 games this season. He averaged 2.3 steals and helped the Spurs finish third in defensive rating with 99.6 points allowed per 100 possessions, according to the Associated Press. Leonard posted career-highs in points (16.5), rebounds (7.2), assists (2.5), and minutes per game (31.8). He is the sixth forward to lead the NBA in steals per game since the NBA started tracking that stat 42 years ago.

Leonard was unable to agree on a contract extension with the Spurs before the season began, so he becomes a restricted free agent at the end of the season.