With the new NBA season still months away, some fans might feel it’s too soon to be thinking of end-of-year awards.
But others are already predicting who might claim the special trophies, including Defensive Player of the Year.
Writing on X, Evan Sidery said that Toumani Camara of the Portland Trail Blazers has “quietly developed into one of the most underrated two-way wings.”
“If the Blazers take a leap, Camara is a legit DPOY dark horse,” Sidery said.
Toumani Camara quietly developed into one of the most underrated two-way wings.
Camara averaged 13.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.4 stocks while shooting 40.3% on threes post-All-Star break.
If the Blazers take a leap, Camara is a legit DPOY dark horse.pic.twitter.com/gIdU3qzzkz
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) July 27, 2025
Last season, Camara averaged 13.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.4 stocks while shooting 40.3 percent on three-pointers after the All-Star break.
The video shared by Sidery proves that Camara, about to start his third season, really is someone special.
Sidery noted that Camara is only a dark horse for Defensive Player of the Year if the Blazers “take a leap” and there is a chance that happens in 2025-26.
That’s because the team has been building a strong and promising young roster, and just added Damian Lillard back into the fold.
They might not be ready to storm all the way to the NBA Finals, but they could make some serious noise in the West and perhaps get back into the playoffs.
The team will surely get a lot more attention in the new season because of Lillard’s triumphant return, which means more eyes will be on Camara too.
If he continues to play like he did after the All-Star break, he will be talked about as a DPOY candidate by many.
People are excited to see what the Blazers can do because of Lillard, but they need to remember that there are numerous players in Portland ready to have an impact next season.
NEXT: Damian Lillard Shares Hilarious Story About Jrue Holiday’s House
