After two years of patiently waiting behind Kawhi Leonard to be recognized as the league’s top defender, Draymond Green was named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year on Monday night during the league’s primetime awards show.
Green finished second to Leonard in DPOY voting each of the last two seasons, but this year the tables were turned and Leonard finished behind Green in the voting. Rudy Gobert was also a finalist for the award. All three were named to the All-Defensive First Team earlier today.
The Michigan State grad saw a decrease in most offensive statistics this season with the arrival of Kevin Durant, but Green took on another level of importance on the defensive end with Andrew Bogut out of the picture. Green averaged a career-high and league-best 2.0 steals per game to go along with 1.4 blocks and 7.9 rebounds per game. He was a do-it-all defender in both the regular season and the playoffs, guarding every position from point guard to defender.
Draymond showed up to the NBA Awards Show in a (debatably) stylish outfit, with a teal tuxedo on top of black shorts. Green rocked the fit as he strode to the stage to accept his award.
Draymond Green is styling pic.twitter.com/VuRbfVhEyl
— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) June 26, 2017
This could be the first of many DPOY awards for Green. Expect him and Leonard to duke it out for the honor for the foreseeable future.