Draymond Green heats up the dpoy race as Victor Wembanyama drops out

With NBA award season just around the corner, several big names are emerging as contenders for the league’s exclusive honors. Among them, Draymond Green has significantly boosted his chances now that Victor Wembanyama is no longer in the running.

Draymond Green further solidified his position by completely shutting down Giannis Antetokounmpo during the Warriors’ win against the Bucks. He held the Greek star scoreless on every shot attempt, throwing Antetokounmpo off his rhythm and ensuring he couldn’t advance.

Draymond Green makes his case

This recent performance validates Draymond Green’s reputation as an elite defender. Over his last several games, he has been a defensive powerhouse, averaging 5.8 defensive rebounds, 1.1 blocks, and 1.7 steals. These impressive stats already position him as one of the top DPOY candidates.

Reflecting on his candidacy, Draymond Green shared his confidence: “I think, obviously, if we keep winning and close this year out strong, then absolutely.” He added, “I look around the league, and I don’t see many players impacting the game defensively like I do. I don’t see many players completely disrupting team offenses the way I can. One hundred percent, especially with Wemby’s injury—it seemed like he had it in the bag. And now, the opportunity is there.”

One star’s injury highlights another’s strength

Victor Wembanyama had been the clear front-runner for the award but was sidelined by a deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder, ruling him out for the rest of the season. Additionally, Wembanyama does not meet the 65-game minimum requirement to qualify for DPOY, leaving the race wide open.

For Draymond Green, this development only strengthens his case. While the competition remains fierce, he no longer faces the towering numbers Victor Wembanyama delivered before his injury. The Spurs rookie had already made history, becoming one of only three players to ever record a 50-point game, a 10-block performance, and a dominant 5×5 stat line in the same season—a rare feat achieved only by legends like David Robinson and Hakeem Olajuwon.

Chasing a place in nba history

Though Wembanyama’s absence is a loss for the league, it opens doors for Draymond Green, who has set his sights on joining an elite group of multi-time DPOY winners. If successful, Green will etch his name alongside NBA greats like Dwight Howard (3x), Ben Wallace (4x), and Rudy Gobert (4x).

Beyond individual accolades, the Warriors demonstrated their depth in a dominant performance against the Bucks, even without Stephen Curry. With  Draymond Green anchoring the defense and Jimmy Butler delivering offensively, the team showed they’re ready to tackle the challenges of the postseason.