One month ago, Draymond Green was an afterthought in the Defensive Player of the Year race. Not a sleeper. Not a dark horse. An afterthought.
Today? According to Polymarket, heâs the odds-on favourite.
Greenâs DPOY chances have soared from 0.3% at the start of March to a league-leading 52.4%, leaping past Evan Mobley (43.4%) and stepping into a space that looked all but reserved for Victor Wembanyama before the Spurs rookie was ruled out for the season.
This is the part of the year where narratives shift and campaigns begin. Draymond is already halfway through his.
On Tuesday night against Milwaukee, with Steph Curry out and the Warriors teetering on the edge of another momentum slip, Green took the Giannis Antetokounmpo assignment and made it personal. He held the two-time MVP to 0-of-6 shooting as the primary defender. Blocked him twice in the first quarter. Talked his talk after the win.
âIf we keep winning and close this year out strong, most definitely,â Green said postgame via NBC Sports Bay Area. âOne million percent I have a case.â
Itâs more than a case. Itâs a statement.
How Draymond Green Took Over the DPOY Race
Before March, Green wasnât even in the conversation. His name sat far below Mobley, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Wemby. Then Wemby went down. Then JJJ missed time. Then Green got healthy, locked in, and started tearing through some of the best frontcourts in the league.
In his last five games, Green is averaging:
- 5.6 defensive rebounds
- 2.6 steals
- 2.2 blocks
Draymondâs defensive rating on the season sits at 108.5 through 57 games played. Thatâs been the heartbeat of a Warriors defense that ranks top-10 since Jimmy Butler joined the squadâand rising.
And Butler, by the way, sees it too.
âHe gets mad when anybody scoresânot just the guy heâs guarding,â Butler told NBA.com. âHeâs a Hall of Famer for a reason.â
Why Greenâs Defense Still Hits Different
The numbers help, but they donât tell the whole story. They rarely do with Draymond.
When heâs at his best, heâs not just making playsâheâs preventing them entirely. Cutting off driving lanes before the guard even knows itâs a drive. Calling out sets two passes ahead. Rotating before the offense even finishes its read.
And when it comes to matchups? Heâs been picking the biggest names and taking them out of games. Zion, Giannis, Siakam. The Hawks loss stung, but Greenâs defense still held up. Now, the Warriors move into a critical stretch with Miami next, and a gauntlet of big matchups after that: Zion again, LeBron, Jokic, KD, Kawhi. If thereâs ever been a DPOY resume built game-by-game, itâs happening in real time.
âWhat are you covering? I cover for everybody,â Green told told NBA.com.
That quote might be his campaign slogan.
Chasing the 65-Game Threshold
The only thing that could stall this push is the leagueâs new eligibility rule. Players need to log 65 games to be considered for most individual awards. Green sits at 57. That means heâll need to suit up for at least 8 of the Warriorsâ final 13.
If he gets there? Heâs got the numbers. Heâs got the film. Heâs got the narrative. And now, heâs got the odds to match.
Greenâs not just back in the DPOY race.
He might already be ahead of it.
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