Draymond Green missing out on DPOY leaves fans in splits: “Media tour for no reason”

Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green threw his hat into the DPOY race after some stellar defensive performances.

Draymond Green missing out on DPOY leaves fans in splits: “Media tour for no reason”

Draymond Green misses out on DPOY award

Last season, Draymond Green was one of the biggest supporters for rookie Victor Wembanyama to win the Defensive Player of the Year award. He didn’t, but made up for it by taking a massive lead in the race. Then his untimely season-ending injury came about, and the award suddenly had no clear frontrunners.

Last year’s winner, Rudy Gobert, has not had a great season and hence was not part of the race. Initially, Memphis Grizzlies star Jaren Jackson Jr. and Cleveland Cavaliers big man Evan Mobley headed the race. However, it still felt as if it was an open run with many candidates yet to stake a claim.

Then Draymond Green put together a defensive masterclass against Giannis Antetokounmpo. That performance suddenly caught everyone’s attention and the Golden State Warrriors’ star officially stated his desire to win the DPOY.

A few more performances of that standard, and Green started to become the clear favorite to win the award. Betting sides favored him, and his performances were helping his case. However, these awards are based on regular-season performance.

That meant voters had to look at the entire season to determine their winner. It seems they did look at the data from the entire season, as the league announced that Evan Mobley was the winner of this season’s DPOY award.

It is not that the seven-footer suddenly overtook Draymond Green at the end due to some electric performances. The Warriors star did his part as well when he slacked in some losses. He could not help stop his team from sliding down to seventh place.

Fans lose their minds after Draymond Green misses out on DPOY award

Once news broke of Evan Mobley’s win, fans turned their attention to Draymond Green. They saw how the four-time champion started a media tour to boost his chances of winning the DPOY. Then they saw how he could not keep his performances in check and resorted to his antics.

Now that those antics have amplified in the playoffs, fans are rolling on the floor thinking what would have happened had he won. Some are thankful, while others believe it was justice served after all the extreme physicality he has doled out to players. Check out examples of those reactions below.

Draymond Green did have a legitimate chance to win his second Defensive Player of the Year award. With Victor Wembanyama out, he had both his team’s form as well as the defensive matchups to help his case. But his end-of-season performances and Evan Mobley’s consistency helped voters decide.

Green can vindicate himself with a stellar playoff run

In game 2 of the first-round playoff battle against the Houston Rockets, Draymond Green had quite a few ‘questionable’ moments. Those moments led a former two-time champion to compare him to the notorious OJ Simpson.

His past suspensions and actions have also played a hand in painting an image. That image can only change if the Golden State Warriors star vindicates himself in the playoffs. Elite defensive performances in the face of extreme physicality can help change the perception surrounding him.

If this DPOY loss can light a fire inside him, he could take the hits on his chin and still destroy the Rockets’ offensive game plan. Instead of losing his cool, he could use this opportunity to establish himself as one of the better close-out playoff defenders.

Without Jimmy Butler, the Warriors’ defensive scheme will take a hit. That is where the 35-year-old can step it up and show that he is the best. If he does not follow that plan and continues to be drawn towards altercations and trash talk, fans will continue to question his claims of being a great defender.

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