Drafted as the 35th pick in the second round, Draymond Green has certainly exceeded all expectations. Establishing a distinct identity, the Michigan product gained prominence for his defensive skills,

HOUSTON – Warriors big man Draymond Green is a finalist for the 2024-25 Defensive Player of the Year award. The NBA announced Sunday before the Warriors’ series opener against the Rockets that Green was in the running for the award alongside Cleveland’s Evan Mobley and Atlanta’s Dyson Daniels.

Golden State enters the series as the much more experienced team thanks to their superstar trio of Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green, but they will have a tough test against a young Houston team.