New Orleans Pelicans coach Jamahl Mosley is calling on center Yves Missi to compete for Defensive player of the Year this season.
New Orleans Pelicans head coach Jamahl Mosley set out an unexpected goal for the third-year center Yves Missi: challenge for the Defensive Player of the Year award.
Mosley issued the challenge both privately to Missi and publicly while on the team's own training camp show broadcast (H/T X user @FernandoRitzman).
Being able to give him that challenge over the air shows the confidence that he has in the young center to really transform this defense thanks to his athleticism, rebounding skills, shot-blocking ability and effort.
The 22-year-old should already be entering this season with renewed confidence thanks to his do-it-all effort for the Cameroon National Team. Over three games, Missi averaged 18.0 points, 11 rebounds and 2.7 blocks. There were a lot of jokes from teammates about him hitting a three.
Maybe the most important comments came from coach Mosley and Pelicans boss Joe Dumars, as the two said they compared him to Hakeem Olajuwon whenever he got back to the facility after that game.
His taking on a larger role with that Cameroon team was crucial, and while his touches might decrease now that he is back in New Orleans, Missi isn't going to be any less important to this team. Mosley clearly values what Missi brings to this defense. Without the team making any major roster moves to address the defense, they are going to need players like him to step up.
The Pelicans had the 22nd-worst rebounding rate in the NBA this past season (49.1%). The year before that, they were even worse at No. 24 (48.9%). That wasn't all Missi's fault or anything, but he certainly could stand to improve on the defensive boards.
Missi has been a bigger asset than most people might expect. He was already an elite rim protector last season (95th percentile block rate) and even crashed the offensive boards well (88th percentile rate), but the lack of physicality that New Orleans has shown in the past on defense held him back. With some added strength and an emphasis being put on everyone's effort, Missi could certainly stand to take a huge leap this season.
It was already assumed just based on the obvious fit from the outside looking in, but the comment from Mosley certainly makes it seem like Missi will be starting at center to begin the year. This will be a massive opportunity for the youngster to really set his NBA career on a great path.
