When Jakob Poeltl arrived in San Antonio as part of the Kawhi Leonard — DeMar DeRozan trade, many people viewed him as a secondary piece in the blockbuster deal. Three years later, he has nearly turned into the second coming of Bill Russell.
Ok, that’s an exaggeration, but Poeltl has developed into an elite defensive player whose mere presence causes opponents to think twice about attacking the rim. He’s a throwback big man who operates entirely in the paint but has been able to maintain a place in the current run-and-gun league due to his defensive impact, which is especially apparent when we dive into some numbers.