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Draymond Green is one of the best defensive players in the league today and has been part of the All-Defensive First Team the past two seasons. However, even after receiving the honor, Green still feels that he deserves more and nothing short of being awarded the Defensive Player of the Year plum this time is acceptable to him
The Golden State Warriors‘ forward recently raved about his defensive prowess and made it known to everyone that he badly wants to win the award this season.
“When you look at our defense, that's where we get hit at the most is in transition. When we get our set defense we're pretty good. So I look at the numbers and I think about those things, and then I also think about how this is a completely different type of defense — it'll take a little time for all that to come together…”
“I think I've been incredible defensively this year. It's one of the things that I really locked in on; I focused in on. I'm so locked in on that end of the basketball (court) right now. It's fun. And I think part of the reason I'm so locked in on it is because of everybody talking about what we can't do on that end and how we'll struggle on that end — just all the doubt on that end from everyone — it just has me at another place mentally.”
Despite being vocal on wanting to be awarded the DPOY, Green also acknowledged the winner the past two years, Kawhi Leonard, and knows that the San Antonio Spurs‘ defensive pace will most likely end up better than his team's. The 6-foot-7 Michigan State product also explained that he wants to be in a situation where it would be very difficult for him to be denied the award.
“When I look at that and say, ‘Man our numbers our low, I wonder if people will vote for me?' Honestly, I don't think that will affect it … this is no disrespect to Kawhi (Leonard), but the Spurs' defensive numbers will probably always be better than ours. Their pace is probably always a lot slower than ours, so they're usually playing a set defense, not getting beat in transition as much.”
“If that did cost me, then hey, so be it. I'm trying to make it to the point this year where it will be hard to deny me that award. That's my focus and that's what I'm gonna try to do.”
Just before the interview ended, Green made it clear that it's the only thing he considers himself selfish at when it comes to individual honors.
“I'm not a selfish guy when it comes to awards or stats … this is one thing I'm very selfish about. I want to win that Defensive Player of the Year Award bad.”
