Draymond Green ran away with the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year award last night, receiving 73 of a possible 100 first-place votes. He also had 22 votes for second place, three for third, and… two writers decided to leave the three-time First Team All-Defense recipient off their ballots completely.
Defensive Player of the Year voting: Draymond Green got 73 of the 100 first place votes pic.twitter.com/SBF6gBSVMa
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) June 27, 2017
The two courageous writers who left Draymond off were revealed when the NBA unveiled full voting results Tuesday morning, and they were Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders and Marcelo Nogueira of Ole. Kyler took to Twitter in the aftermath of the award being announced and explained why he didn’t feel Green was deserving of his vote. Back in April, Kyler did let the world know he hadn’t voted for Green for DPOY, citing “questionable” plays and “many transgressions.” On Tuesday, he continued to defend himself. Kyler said he knew Green would win the award, and sought only to “start a discussion” with his vote.
Nope, but did use my platform to start a discussion. Which by the way in no way impacted the outcome, but allowed for the discussion. https://t.co/dO6b6gF4r9
— Steve Kyler (@stevekylerNBA) June 27, 2017
Should the highest award go to someone who is blatantly "questionable" – is that the message we should send with an award? https://t.co/7pzkDMUrHb
— Steve Kyler (@stevekylerNBA) June 27, 2017
And here was an explanatory tweet from Kyler sent back in April when he first cast his ballot.
I have… watched him kick another dude in the junk and punch an MVP in his injured wrist #notmyvote https://t.co/Hf5YGNYEW8
— Steve Kyler (@stevekylerNBA) April 11, 2017
Agree or disagree, Kyler has stated his reasoning, and it’s not that he thinks Draymond is a bad defender. Nogueira, on the other hand, may have some serious judgement issues. As it turned out, he was also the lone voter who put Boston’s Isaiah Thomas as a Second Team All-Defense selection on his ballot as well, while leaving Draymond off completely.
I don't know who Marcelo Nogueira is, but he has IT on All defense 2nd team and Draymond on none https://t.co/qFlV2anJf7
— Josh Lloyd (@redrock_bball) June 27, 2017
Maybe these votes were a personal vendetta against Green, or maybe Noegueira also sought to “start a conversation,” but either way, yikes.