Trail Blazers Toumani Camara Shines as Februarys Western Conference Defensive Player of the Month

Toumani Camara, a forward for the Portland Trail Blazers, has been recognized as the NBA Western Conference Defensive Player of the Month for February, as announced by the league. In his second NBA season, the Belgian athlete has established himself as a formidable defensive presence.

According to the Blazers:

The NBA has officially declared that Toumani Camara of the Trail Blazers is the Western Conference’s Defensive Player of the Month for February.

In a month that saw the Blazers achieve an 8-4 record, Camara stood out as the lone player in the league to achieve 80 or more rebounds, over 20 steals, and at least 10 blocks throughout February.

Camara leads the league with 25 charges taken this season and managed to take four charges in February, tying him for the highest number in the NBA for that month. His impressive 24 steals, averaging 2.0 per game, also placed him among the top five in the league for the month.

For the entire season, Camara has recorded at least one steal in 50 games, which is tied for the second-highest total in the NBA.

In a memorable performance on February 22 against Charlotte, Camara registered a franchise-record +45 rating over 28 minutes of play. His exceptional defensive efforts contributed significantly to the Trail Blazers’ achievements, as the team ranked fourth in the NBA in defensive rating (109.2), third in opponent three-point shooting percentage (.316), and ninth in opponent points per game (111.9) during February.