Draymond Green had a rough 2023-24 season. The veteran Golden State Warriors forward began the season with a calf injury before battling numerous disciplinary issues throughout the season. However, towards the end of the season, he developed a reliable frontcourt partnership with Trayce Jackson-Davis, with the pair excelling defensively.
According to ESPN, if Green has a trouble-free season, he could compete for Defensive Player of the Year honors. In a recent poll of the network’s editors, Green finished at No. 8, tied with OG Anunoby of the New York Knicks and Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks.
Green previously won the Defensive Player of the Year award, lifting the trophy in 2017. During his career, he was also named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team four times and the All-Defensive Second Team four times. He is also considered a generational defender due to his outstanding basketball IQ, exceptional processing speed and ability to read an offense on the fly.
If the Warriors are to rebound from their difficult 2023-24 season, Green will have to step up and remind everyone why he is such an important piece of the puzzle for Golden State. A strong season from the four-time champions could save Steve Kerr’s team from the play-in tournament, which would be a major step in the right direction and give Steph Curry and Co. a chance to go deep into the playoffs.
This post originally appeared on Warriors Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Þjórsárdalur!
