Marcus Camby of the Denver Nuggets was named NBA defensive player of the year on Friday.

Camby averaged 3.30 blocks per game this season, the third time he has led the league. He also scored 11.2 points, grabbed 11.7 rebounds and had career-high 3.2 assists a game.

He received 431 points, including 70 first-place votes, from a panel of 130 sportswriters and broadcasters in the United States and Canada.

San Antonio forward Bruce Bowen (206) was second and team mate Tim Duncan (158) third.

An 11-year NBA veteran, Camby's career average of 2.56 blocks ranks fourth among active players.

He joins George Johnson, Dikembe Mutombo, Hakeem Olajuwon and Theo Ratliff with three shot-blocking titles and is one behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Mark Eaton for the most in league history.

(Xinhua News Agency April 28, 2007)