Draymond Green Explains Why He Should Be DPOY Over Gobert and Simmons

Draymond Green once vociferously dubbed himself the greatest defender in NBA history, so it only makes sense that he views himself as this year's Defensive Player of the Year. He's a finalist for the award, along with Rudy Gobert and Ben Simmons, and posits that "there's no defensive situation where you don't want me on the floor."

While speaking to Bleacher Report's Taylor Rooks, the 2017 Defensive Player of the Year noted how neither one of the other finalists control the game on the defensive side of the floor. He went on to say that defence is more than merely protecting the rim.

You didn't name not one person who can control the game from the defensive side of the floor, Green told Bleacher Report's Taylor Rooks. I think what [Gobert] does on the defensive side of the ball is incredible. I think the way he protects the rim is incredible. Defense is more than just protecting the rim.

Y'all don't judge defense the same way you judge offense. There is no offensive situation where you don't want Steph Curry on the floor. There is no offensive situation where you don't want James Harden on the floor. There is no offensive situation where you don't want LeBron James on the floor. Well, guess what? There's no defensive situation where you don't want me on the floor.

Green ended by saying that, unlike most players, there is no defensive situation in which he is uncomfortable.

Everybody like, 'Look, oh, man, this guy led the league in steals, that guy led the league in blocks.' But is there a situation where you can put that guy in and make him uncomfortable? For most guys, yes. You can't put me in a situation on defense and make me uncomfortable.

Green averaged 1.7 steals per game this season and led the Warriors to a top-five defensive rating. 

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