Golden State Warriors: Draymond Green wins Defensive Player of the Year

The Golden State Warriors’ star forward Draymond Green has been named the 2017 Defensive Player of the Year after his incredible campaign.

Draymond Green’s summer just got a little better and shinier. He continues to win. Green has been named the 2017 Defensive Player of the Year.

At the first ever NBA Awards Show, Green was honored with the award. It’s the first time he’s been named the Defensive Player of the Year. Finally, he got one.

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Green was clearly the best defender in basketball this season. He was second in steals (154) and 11th in blocks (106). He was second in Defensive Rating (99.1) and Defensive Win Shares (5.4). He was also first in Defensive Box Plus/Minus.

The stats still don’t do Green’s defensive impact justice. He understood every team’s playbook and broke up every set from the beginning of the season to the NBA Finals. Green, effortlessly, defended everyone from point guards to centers.

Green finished as the runner-up the last two years to Kawhi Leonard. Last season, he had more first place votes than the San Antonio Spurs’ star did, but he was, inexplicably, left off some ballots. This year, he got enough votes as he was, by far, the top defensive player in the league.

Green has established himself as one of the most versatile and unique defenders in NBA history. He is great on the perimeter. What’s even more impressive is his ability to protect the rim at his size.

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Earlier in the day, Green received the most votes for the NBA’s First Team All-Defense squad. It’s his third year in a row being First Team. This award is much sweeter.

Green got the award he wanted: the Larry O’Brien trophy. After two years of coming up just short, it’s also nice to get this one too.