The Boston CelticsAvery Bradley is known for being a hard-nosed, pesky defender and he certainly takes pride in it.

Speaking to reporters during a break in their team's inter-squad scrimmage last Friday, the 25-year-old guard talked about which award he thinks he should always be in the conversation. Per Chris Forberg of ESPN:

“If we’re playing well this year, I’ll give myself a chance [to compete for the Defensive Player of the Year award] because, to be honest, I feel like I should always be in that conversation. I think I’ve [been left off the] defensive team because of our [lack of] success in the past. We weren’t winning as many games and I’m not going to name some players, but when I was looking at the list I’m like, ‘That person got more votes?’ It’s just because they had a better year, they played longer, they were on TV more — all those things help you out. This year, I feel like the amount of TV games and how we should be playing this year should be able to help me be in that conversation.

Last year's All Defensive First Team member also claimed that nobody in the league plays defense like he does and also named two other players who he appreciates watching playing D:

“You can ask all the best players in the NBA — there’s not one player in the NBA that guards them like me. I know [San Antonio Spurs forward] Kawhi [Leonard]is a great defender and [Golden State Warriors big man] Draymond [Green] — to me, he’s a really good defender. For someone that plays defense, I appreciate watching him play defense. It’s really amazing.”

Knowing that past winners of the DPOY award is almost always given to big men, Bradley understands what it would take for him personally and his team for him to win it. He will also get more exposure especially with the number of nationally-televised games the Celtics will have. But most importantly, they have to win more games.

“I think I’ve (been left off the) defensive team because of our (lack of) success in the past. We weren’t winning as many games and I’m not going to name some players, but when I was looking at the list I’m like, ‘That person got more votes?’ It’s just because they had a better year, they played longer, they were on TV more – all those things help you out.”

With the addition of center Al Horford to their fold, it certainly adds to the team's case as one of the more defensive-minded groups, and will also bring more attention to the Celtics. If more eyes will be on their team, it gives him a bigger chance to get noticed and have more votes in the balloting.

The former 19th overall pick of the 2010 draft looks to improve on his career averages of 11.5 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists and an impressive 1.1 steals in only 27.3 minutes per game. Should he be successful in bagging the trophy at the end of the season, he would only be the fourth guard to do so. A tall task but with his defensive skills, definitely not impossible.