Isaiah Hartenstein Reveals Overlooked Advantage Draymond Green Has in DPOTY Race
The NBA announced the finalists for the end-of-season awards on Easter Sunday, and the Golden State Warriors are represented. Draymond Green has joined Dyson Daniels and Evan Mobley as finalists for Defensive Player of the Year.
The Warriors finished with the seventh-best defense in the league, and Green played a massive role in their success. However, not everyone thinks he deserved the nod, with Isaiah Hartenstein of the Oklahoma City Thunder taking a shot at Green.
Jan 29, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) dribbles past Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein (55) in the first quarter at the Chase Center. © Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
While Green led the Warriors' solid defense, Lu Dort was the best defender on the Oklahoma City Thunder, the best defensive team in the league.
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Last season, Rudy Gobert took home DPOTY for anchoring the top-ranked Minnesota Timberwolves defense, so it stands to reason that Dort, at the very least, should be considered for the award.
However, Green has an advantage that Dort doesn't have: limitless media coverage fueled by his own podcast, The Draymond Green Show With Baron Davis. On his podcast, Green frequently made his case to win the award.
"I might need to get a podcast with Lu," joked Hartenstein about building Dort's case.
Neither Dort nor Green would have stood a chance in the DPOTY race had Victor Wembanyama not had his season ended prematurely by a deep vein thrombosis diagnosis in his shoulder. He finished the season leading the league in blocks despite only playing in 46 games, and will enter next season as the favorite to win the award.
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Related: Rockets' Comments Before Playoff Matchup Bring Up Warriors' Memories of Last Season
Related: Jalen Williams Gets Honest About Thunder's Title Expectations
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