Jaren Jackson Jr. and Evan Mobley were named Defensive Players of the Month

Grizzlies front/center Jaren Jackson Jr. was named Western Conference Defensive Player of the Month for games played in December Cavaliers front/center Evan Mobley won the award in the East, according to the NBA (Twitter link).

Jackson, the 2023 Defensive Player of the Year, averaged 22.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.6 blocks in 28.7 minutes per game in 14 appearances last month. He posted a .464/.384/.780 shooting line.

Jackson was the only player in the NBA to have more than 20 steals and more than 20 blocks per league last month, with Memphis ranking third in the West in defensive rating during that time.

Mobley, who made the All-Defensive First Team alongside Jackson in 2023, averaged 18.8 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.0 SPG and 1.3 BPG in December 12 games. 589/.524/.696 (28.9 MPG). The Cavs led the East in defensive rating last month. Mobley ranked second in the East in contested shots per game in December (10.0).

The Cavaliers, who have won eight straight and have the league’s best record (29-4), have the NBA’s best offense and eighth-best defense. Memphis, which has the second-best record in the West at 23-11, ranks fifth and fourth in those categories, respectively.

Jackson struck out Toumani Camara, Anthony Davis, Kris Dunn, Walker Kessler And Victor Wembanyama in the West. The other nominees were in the East Bam Adebayo, OG Anunoby, Dyson Daniels And Jalen suggests (Twitter link).

Wembanyama and Daniels won the awards for games played in October and November. This is the first season that the monthly defensive awards will be presented.