NBA Award Watch: James Harden rises to the top
By John Buhler
Defensive Player of the Year: Draymond Green
As the Golden State Warriors have been able to reclaim their place atop the NBA’s Western Conference in the aftermath of the Kevin Durant injury, it’s become increasingly clear that Defensive Player of the Year might go to Golden State power forward Draymond Green.
Green’s biggest competitor for Defensive Player of the Year throughout the season has been Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert. While both teams have qualified for the Western Conference Playoffs, Green’s team is largely expected to reach the Conference Finals at minimum. Utah could win a first round series, but anything beyond that is a stretch.
What has been crucial in Golden State’s ability to do more than tread water in the wake of Durant’s sprained knee has been Green’s top-tier defensive commitment. He and the Spurs’ Leonard are the two most versatile defenders in the game. Gobert hangs out under the rim mostly.
Green is more than willing to guard whomever Golden State head coach Steve Kerr needs him to. Add in that Leonard has become more of an offensive-minded player of late and this could be Green’s award to lose.