1982-1983 Sidney Moncrief Milwaukee Bucks
1983-1984 Sidney Moncrief Milwaukee Bucks
1984-1985 Mark Eaton Utah Jazz
1985-1986 Alvin Robertson San Antonio Spurs
1986-1987 Michael Cooper Los Angeles Lakers
1987-1988 Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls
1988-1989 Mark Eaton Utah Jazz
1989-1990 Dennis Rodman Detroit Pistons
1990-1991 Dennis Rodman Detroit Pistons
1991-1992 David Robinson San Antonio Spurs
1992-1993 Hakeem Olajuwon Houston Rockets
1993-1994 Hakeem Olajuwon Houston Rockets
1994-1995 Dikembe Mutombo Denver Nuggets
1995-1996 Gary Payton Seattle SuperSonics
1996-1997 Dikembe Mutombo Atlanta Hawks
1997-1998 Dikembe Mutombo Atlanta Hawks
1998-1999 Alonzo Mourning Miami Heat
1999-2000 Alonzo Mourning Miami Heat
2000-2001 Dikembe Mutombo Philadelphia 76ers
2001-2002 Ben Wallace Detroit Pistons
2002-2003 Ben Wallace Detroit Pistons
2003-2004 Ron Artest Indiana Pacers
2004-2005 Ben Wallace Detroit Pistons
2005-2006 Ben Wallace Detroit Pistons
2006-2007 Marcus Camby Denver Nuggets
The "nobody wins in a small market" argument doesn't exactly work.
I can remember loathing Jordan in his prime, UNTIL, he played for the '92 Dream Team (angelic choir music plays in background). Once I got to see him and root for him in the Olympics, I started appreciating him for the player that he was.
I just think that too many people dislike Bruce for doing his job so well. The only time people watch him (that aren't Spurs fans) is when he's locking down their best player. If more people got a chance to truly appreciate him, I think he'd have been more successful.