Warriors’ Draymond Green Talks About His Defensive Player of the Year Chances

‘I don’t see many players completely throwing off an entire team’s offense the way I do,’ said the Golden State forward.

Warriors forward Draymond Green reacts during a game against the Phoenix Suns in Phoenix on Dec 12, 2023. Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports via Field Level Media

When Golden State Warriors power forward Draymond Green last won NBA Defensive Player of the Year, his team was in the middle of a dynasty.

The Warriors were on their way to a second NBA championship in three years in 2017, and Golden State collected one more in 2018. Green, 35, knows this Warriors team (40–29) has a ways to go in order to get back to contention and end a three-year title drought, but he believes his defense is still top-tier.

“Obviously, if we keep winning and close this year out strong, most definitely,” Green told reporters after a 104–93 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday. “I look around the league and don’t see many players impacting the game on the defensive end the way I do. I don’t see many players completely throwing off an entire team’s offense the way I do. One thousand percent.”

Green helped contain Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, who had only 20 points on 5–16 shooting, despite an NBA second-best 30.4 points per game. The Bucks (38–30) also notably came in averaging 114.5 points per game.

An eight-time NBA All-Defensive first or second team recipient, Green averages 5.1 defensive rebounds, 1.1 blocks, and 1.1 steals per game. The door is open for an older veteran like Green to grab the award this year amid the current landscape of defensive talent in the league.

“Especially with Wemby going down, seemed like he had it won. And now it is right there,” Green explained. “So 1 million percent I have a case, and I will continue to build that case for these next 13 games. Tonight was a prime example of that.”

Wemby, or San Antonio Spurs star center/forward Victor Wembanyama, is out for the season due to a blood clot in his shoulder. Other contenders for the award include Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels, Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley, and Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr.

“You got some people that have a vote on the East Coast that probably see us play four times a year,” Green said. “And if you look at the stats, you be like, ‘Oh, Draymond averages one steal and a block.’ Those numbers don’t jump off the page at you.”

“But you watch me play and then ask the opposing coach what did I do to [their] offense? It’s a different story. This award is widely based off statistics, and those statistics don’t always tell the story,” Green continued, “but I want another one, and I ain’t retired yet. I still got a chance.”

New Warriors guard Jimmy Butler, a 14-year NBA veteran, appreciates what Green can do on defense. Butler has been on the opposite side during his previous stints with the Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Chicago Bulls.

“I think you have to respect the (expletive) out of what he does, and it’s so hard to do,” Butler told reporters on Tuesday. “ To shoot the ball, I don’t know, four times maybe, if that, and then just lock in on defense every possession down and get mad when anybody scores—not just the guy he’s guarding—you don’t find that around the league too often.”

“He has won at this level. He is a Hall of Famer for a reason,” Butler added. “I just respect what he brings to this squad, what he brings to this locker room, and how he affects winning in every single way.”

Warriors head coach Steve Kerr has high praise for Green, and Kerr has seen the best in his career. Kerr notably played with two previous DOPY winners in Hall of Famers Michael Jordan and David Robinson.

“He’s the best defender I’ve ever seen,” Kerr told reporters on Tuesday. “I mean, you see the pick-and-roll with [Bucks guard Damian Lillard]. If he’s in it, he kind of does this fake blitz thing with his speed, with his anticipation. He forces Dame back out towards halfcourt and he’s able to get back. The speed and recovery with Draymond is just stunning.

“And then the brain that goes with it. If he’s on the weak side, he’s constantly coming over to help,” Kerr added. “He’s one of the great defenders of all time, and he’s still doing it at a high level.”