Im Still Ballin
03-19-2022, 04:43 PM
I originally came across this knowledge from Kevin's Wikipedia page.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_McHale_(basketball)#:~:text=McHale%20was%20n amed%20to%20the%20All%2DNBA%20First%20Team%2C%20wa s%20named%20the%20NBA%27s%20best%20defensive%20pla yer%20by%20the%20league%27s%20coaches
McHale was never better than in the 1986–1987 season, setting career highs in scoring (26.1) and rebounding (9.9). He also became the first player in NBA history to shoot 60 percent or better from the field (60.4%) and 80 percent or better from the free-throw line (83.6%) in the same season. McHale was named to the All-NBA First Team, was named the NBA's best defensive player by the league's coaches, and finished fourth in the Most Valuable Player voting behind Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, and teammate Larry Bird.
I wasn't sure if it was legitimate, as there wasn't a source attached. I had thought it was a survey poll among the league's coaches at the time. However, I did some digging and found a newspaper clipping of the All-Defensive Team voting results for the 1986-1987 season. Before the 2013-2014 season, coaches voted it, not the press.
As you can see in the image below, McHale got the most 1st team votes from the coaches.
Kevin McHale (17 votes)
Michael Cooper (15 votes)
Alvin Robinson (11 votes)
Paul Pressey (9 votes)
Hakeem Olajuwon (8 votes)
Mark Eaton (8 votes)
Dennis Johnson (6 votes)
Rodney McCray (6 votes)
Maurice Cheeks (6 votes)
Derek Harper (4 votes)
https://img.newspapers.com/img/img?institutionId=0&user=0&id=612880111&clippingId=47519824&width=557&height=1197&crop=2183_5829_495_1084&rotation=0&ts=1647721246
Now, you may not consider this as him being voted "the best defender in the NBA by the coaches," but it certainly infers that. It shows us just how highly regarded his versatile defense was.
What's also crazy is that this was the same season he put up:
26.1 PPG//9.9 RPG//2.6 APG//0.5 SPG//2.2 BPG on a league-leading 60.4% FG, 83.6% FT, and 65.5% TS.
He's still, to this date, the only player ever to put up at least 20+ PPG, while shooting 60%+ FG and 80%+ FT. He and Zion are the only two guys to do at least 25+ PPG, while shooting 60%+ FG.
Peak Kevin McHale was a tremendous talent. GOAT level paint scoring on offense, and versatile DPOY-tier level impact on defense.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_McHale_(basketball)#:~:text=McHale%20was%20n amed%20to%20the%20All%2DNBA%20First%20Team%2C%20wa s%20named%20the%20NBA%27s%20best%20defensive%20pla yer%20by%20the%20league%27s%20coaches
McHale was never better than in the 1986–1987 season, setting career highs in scoring (26.1) and rebounding (9.9). He also became the first player in NBA history to shoot 60 percent or better from the field (60.4%) and 80 percent or better from the free-throw line (83.6%) in the same season. McHale was named to the All-NBA First Team, was named the NBA's best defensive player by the league's coaches, and finished fourth in the Most Valuable Player voting behind Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, and teammate Larry Bird.
I wasn't sure if it was legitimate, as there wasn't a source attached. I had thought it was a survey poll among the league's coaches at the time. However, I did some digging and found a newspaper clipping of the All-Defensive Team voting results for the 1986-1987 season. Before the 2013-2014 season, coaches voted it, not the press.
As you can see in the image below, McHale got the most 1st team votes from the coaches.
Kevin McHale (17 votes)
Michael Cooper (15 votes)
Alvin Robinson (11 votes)
Paul Pressey (9 votes)
Hakeem Olajuwon (8 votes)
Mark Eaton (8 votes)
Dennis Johnson (6 votes)
Rodney McCray (6 votes)
Maurice Cheeks (6 votes)
Derek Harper (4 votes)
https://img.newspapers.com/img/img?institutionId=0&user=0&id=612880111&clippingId=47519824&width=557&height=1197&crop=2183_5829_495_1084&rotation=0&ts=1647721246
Now, you may not consider this as him being voted "the best defender in the NBA by the coaches," but it certainly infers that. It shows us just how highly regarded his versatile defense was.
What's also crazy is that this was the same season he put up:
26.1 PPG//9.9 RPG//2.6 APG//0.5 SPG//2.2 BPG on a league-leading 60.4% FG, 83.6% FT, and 65.5% TS.
He's still, to this date, the only player ever to put up at least 20+ PPG, while shooting 60%+ FG and 80%+ FT. He and Zion are the only two guys to do at least 25+ PPG, while shooting 60%+ FG.
Peak Kevin McHale was a tremendous talent. GOAT level paint scoring on offense, and versatile DPOY-tier level impact on defense.