Warriors’ Draymond Green makes case for Defensive Player of the Year
Draymond Green’s chance to earn the Defensive Player of the Year award has become more apparent as the Golden State Warriors continue to move up the standings.
Green, who had limited two-time league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo to 20 points on 5-for-16 shooting, including 0-for-7 when he defended him, responded strongly to the possibility of capturing the honor for the second time in his career.
“Obviously, if we keep winning and close this year out strong, most definitely,” Green said via ESPN. “I look around the league and don’t see many players impacting the game on the defensive end the way I do. I don’t see many players completely throwing off an entire team’s offense the way I do. One thousand percent.
“Especially with Wemby [the San Antonio Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama] going down, seemed like he had it won. And now it is right there. So 1 million percent I have a case, and I will continue to build that case for these next 13 games. Tonight was a prime example of that.”
The Warriors’ climb up the standings since trading for Jimmy Butler has spotlighted their improved defense, starting with Green’s continued strong play on that end of the floor.
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The 35-year-old remains the anchor of the Warriors’ defense, which has helped guide them out of the play-in tournament.
However, Green will have his competition for the vaunted award as reigning winner Minnesota Timberwolves big man Rudy Gobert, Cleveland Cavalier’s big man Evan Mobley, and Memphis Grizzlies big man Jaren Jackson Jr., among others, will be vying for the award.
