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NBA Award Watch: Draymond Green dominating defensively

By John Buhler

Dec 11, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) and Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) wait for a rebound during a free throw in the second half at Target Center. The Warriors won 116-108. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 11, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) and Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) wait for a rebound during a free throw in the second half at Target Center. The Warriors won 116-108. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 11, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) and Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) wait for a rebound during a free throw in the second half at Target Center. The Warriors won 116-108. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 11, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) and Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) wait for a rebound during a free throw in the second half at Target Center. The Warriors won 116-108. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /

Defensive Player of the Year: Draymond Green

The Defensive Player of the Year award looks like it’s going to be the most highly contested in the NBA this season. Several players have looked like front-runners for the award at different points already. It’s going to go to a frontcourt player, but which one?

Golden State Warriors power forward/center Draymond Green is the latest to make a case for himself, following the likes of Andre Drummond, Rudy Gobert, Dwight Howard and Hassan Whiteside.

Though Utah remains highly competitive, Green’s Warriors are as good as they’ve ever been at 25-4 through 29 games. His importance as the best defensive player on the best team in basketball can’t be overstated.

Green leads the NBA in Defensive Box Plus/Minus at 5.2 and is responsible for 2.1 Defensive Win Shares. For a team that we all thought was going to have issues with frontcourt defense, Green has picked up the slack and should be rewarded with his first Defensive Player of the Year award.

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