Draymond Green believes he should be in DPOY conversation

Draymond Green believes he should be in DPOY conversation

After San Antonio Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama was sidelined for the season due to a blood clot in his right shoulder, the Defensive Player of the Year race became wide open.

While Jaren Jackson Jr., Evan Mobley and Dyson Daniels were among the few that have led the chase, Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green is making a late push. Green believes he’s deserving, too.

Obviously, if we keep winning and close this year out strong, most definitely,” Green said, according to ESPN’s Ohm Younngmisuk. “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 (Victor Wembanyama) going down, seemed like he had it won. And now it is right there. So, one 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 have surged into a top-10 defense, including being the second-best defense (to only Detroit) since the All-Star break. Green and Jimmy Butler have been one of the league’s most impactful defensive duos since the 35-year-old forward was acquired in mid-February.

While defense is way more complex than just numbers, the analytics love Green relative to Jackson, Daniels and Mobley.

Assuming he won the award, this would be his second career DPOY award (2016-17). The counting stats don’t quite favor him among the others, he looks completely rejuvenated at 35, flying all around the hardwood. You can visibly see his impact–on the surface, the eight-time All-Defensive honoree is averaging 3.0 stocks per 75, which is strong. He’s making plays on a nightly basis that you simply don’t expect players at his age to.

That said, I am not sure he can overtake the aforementioned three for winning the award. But at the very least, it’s fair to say that Green isn’t “washed” nor is he declining defensively. That day will come, that’s just not today.

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