Draymond Green Named Finalist for 2025 Defensive Player of the Year Amid Mixed Reactions
Posted 2 weeks 2 days ago
Golden State Warriors veteran Draymond Green has officially been named one of the finalists for the 2025 NBA Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) award. This marks the fourth time in his career that Green has reached finalist status for the coveted Hakeem Olajuwon Trophy.
Known for his defensive prowess and leadership on the court, Green had boldly declared in March that he was on track to win the award this year—and he’s come close to fulfilling that promise. Back in March, during a 104-93 victory against the Milwaukee Bucks, Green made headlines by stating, “If we keep winning and finish strong, I’m definitely winning DPOY.
I’ve seen the league—there aren’t many guys impacting the game defensively like I do.” That night, Green recorded four blocks, reinforcing his claim. Previously, he won the DPOY in 2017 and was a finalist in 2015, 2021, and 2023.
Read More: https://www.esnnews.com/post/klay-thompson-revenge-mavericks-eliminate-kings-nba-playin-2025 However, Green's inclusion as a finalist for 2025 has stirred mixed opinions among fans and analysts.
His competition includes rising stars Dyson Daniels of the Atlanta Hawks and Evan Mobley of the Cleveland Cavaliers—both more than a decade younger. Critics argue that while Green’s impact is undeniable, his statistics pale in comparison to Mobley and Daniels, who posted more impressive defensive and scoring numbers this season.
At 35 years old and in his 13th NBA season, Green has averaged 9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 1 block over 68 games this season. Meanwhile, Daniels, in just his third year, tallied 14.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 3 steals per game.
Mobley, who helped the Cavaliers secure the top seed in the Eastern Conference, earned his first All-Star selection this year while averaging 18.5 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.6 blocks. The DPOY race has been unpredictable this year, especially after the early-season frontrunner Victor Wembanyama was disqualified from contention.
The Spurs’ phenom, who led the league in blocks for the second consecutive year, was sidelined with a blood clot issue and failed to meet the 65-game eligibility requirement, finishing with only 50 appearances.
Read More: https://www.esnnews.com/post/anthony-davis-mavericks-win-hawks-play-in-race With the DPOY announcement looming, the debate rages on.
Can the experienced Green defy the odds and secure his second career DPOY? Or will the NBA choose to reward the emerging talents of the next generation? One thing is certain—the 2025 DPOY race is one of the most heated in recent memory.
