Golden State Warriors: Draymond Green should be DPOY frontrunner

Nobody plays defense quite like Draymond Green. Here is why the Golden State Warriors forward should be the frontrunner to win Defensive Player of the year in 2023.

The Golden State Warriors have an elite defense spearheaded by Draymond Green, who should be the frontrunner for DPOY.

The Warriors were on pace to be one of the most sturdy defensive teams in league history prior to Draymond’s injury midway through the 2021-22 NBA season.

They held a Defensive Rating of 101.6 prior to January, the best since San Antonio’s rating of 98.2 in 2016.

Behind a number of talented defenders like Andrew Wiggins, Otto Porter, Gary Payton and Kevon Looney, the Dubs were able to lock up better than any other team in the NBA.

Keeping everyone in line, as always, was Draymond. He is the glue that brings it all together and the best defender on the team.

His impact was heightening in the playoffs, where he helped the Dubs become a staggering nine points better on defense when he was on the floor.

Given the Warriors have mostly kept the same roster from last year, with the addition of capable defenders in Donte DiVincenzo and JaMychal Green — as well as a fully healthy Klay Thompson, who was one of the NBA’s best perimeter defenders prior to injury — it’s safe to assume the Dubs will be at the top of the pack once again.

With Green at the center of everything, the Warriors have a chance to replicate their early success from last season. They could be even better, now that everyone has had a chance to build some chemistry with each other.

If the Warriors continue to be a historically great defensive team with Green acting as their anchor, it’s hard to see anyone else winning the Defensive Player of the Year award.