Golden State Warriors: Best candidates for each NBA award

(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 6
Next
(Photo by Jennifer Pottheiser/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Jennifer Pottheiser/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Defensive Player of the Year: Draymond Green

The Warriors best candidate for Defensive Player of the Year is without a doubt Draymond Green. Over the years, Green has become a defensive monster. His physical attributes and awareness on defense have turned him into a premier defender.

Draymond has been anchoring the Warriors defense for a few years now. Under Green’s control, Golden State has displayed a dominant defense. In the last four season, the Dubs have finished in the top 10 for defensive rating three separate times.

The main reason for their success as a team is Green’s defensive mind. Green is constantly directing traffic and helping his teammates get to the right spot on the floor. He often reads the offense and is able to disrupt the play before it even happens.

Green is also a perfect build to be versatile on defense His size allows him to bang in the paint with the NBA’s biggest centers. Meanwhile, he uses his above-average lateral quickness to stay in front of opposing guards.

Green’s physicality is more than enough to throw someone off their game and his expressive personality only adds to his prowess.

In the 2016-17 NBA season, Green won his first Defensive Player of the Year award. It’s clear that he doesn’t intend to settle and will be gunning for the honors again this season. As long as he continues to cause chaos for the opposing team, Green will be in the mix for this award.