Two days after Draymond Green said he no longer cared about the Defensive Player of the Year award, the Warriors forward got it anyway.
After finishing in second place in the balloting in each of the past two seasons, Green received the honor Monday night during the NBA Awards show from New York.
Green beat out two other finalists, Jazz center Rudy Gobert and Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard. Leonard topped Green in each of the past two seasons.
Green posted impeccable overall statistics, leading the league in steals (2.03 per game) for the team that led the league in that category and averaging 1.39 blocks, as the Warriors also led the NBA in that category.
Green also led the NBA in defensive rating and defensive win shares, largely due to his ability as an irreplaceable force on that end of the court. Green starts at power forward but spends considerable time at center -- while also playing point forward on offense.
Green led the media balloting for the NBA’s All-Defensive team, racking up 198 of a possible 200 points. He was voted to first team on 99 of 100 ballots yet completely omitted from one ballot.
Green, who finished fourth in real plus-minus, averaged 10.2 points and 7.9 rebounds. He also led the Warriors in assists, averaging 7.0 per game.
