Former NBA guard Shaquille Harrison, who has been playing for the South Bay Lakers, has been named the NBA G League’s Defensive Player of the Year for the second time in three seasons, the league announced (via Twitter). Harrison previously won the award in 2021/22 while playing for the Delaware Blue Coats, the Sixers’ NBAGL affiliate.
In 34 regular season games with South Bay in 2023/24, Harrison averaged 15.1 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 6.5 APG and a league-best 2.9 SPG in 34.1 MPG. He posted a .518/.330/.663 shooting line over that span. Harrison also appeared in nine Showcase Cup games with South Bay this season, averaging 10.3 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 7.9 APG and 1.9 SPG on .431/.333/.667 shooting in 31.4 MPG.
Harrison spent training camp and preseason with the Grizzlies this fall after inking an Exhibit 10 contract. He was waived before the season started. However, they brought him back on a 10-day hardship deal, and he appeared in three games for six total minutes with Memphis this season.
The seven-year veteran has appeared in 183 total regular season games with Phoenix, Chicago, Utah, Denver, Brooklyn, Portland and Memphis, holding career averages of 5.2 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 1.6 APG and 1.0 SPG on .435/.281/.718 shooting in 15.2 MPG.
According to the NBA, Rio Grande Valley Vipers (Rockets) guard Trhae Mitchell and Maine Celtics center Kylor Kelley finished second and third, respectively, for the award, which was voted on by head coaches and general managers.