The NBA’s race for the Defensive Player of the Year award this season seemed like it was in the bag for Spurs center Victor Wembanyama before he was shut down for the season due to a blood clot in his shoulder. Since then, Warriors’ Draymond Green and Cavaliers’ Evan Mobley have separated themselves in the race for the trophy.
According to the sportsbooks, Green is now the favorite to bring home the hardware, but let’s take a look at the case for both players.
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Evan Mobley (The Underdog)
Mobley has proven himself as one of the NBA’s most versatile defenders and is one of the few players in the league who can truly defend all five positions. He’s averaging the fifth-most blocks per game with 1.6, but his most impressive feat doesn’t show up on the box score.
Mobley has exceptional agility for a player of his size, allowing him to leap from the paint out to the three-point line to contest a shot in a flash. While this could be attributed to his freak athleticism, he’s also become one of the smartest help defenders in the NBA, helping the Cavs build a wall in the paint alongside Jarrett Allen.
To put it simply, Evan Mobley is one of the most physically gifted defenders we have ever seen and has the potential to be an all-time great players. With Cleveland sitting comfortably atop the Eastern Conference, Mobley still has a strong case as the league’s premier defender.
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Draymond Green (The Favorite)
Mobley might have the better defensive statistics, but Green might be the best defensive leader in the NBA. For over a decade, Green has been the backbone of a Warriors defense that has never had a major rim protector. At just 6’6″, Green is alongside Mobley as one of the only defenders in the league that can defend every position.
While he’s been the underdog in the race for the last few months, Green’s exceptional play and the Warriors’ strong March, have launched him to the front of the race. Green held Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo to 0-7 shooting during a recent matchup, highlighting his ability to guard players much larger than himself.
As a menace with an intense mindset similar to Dennis Rodman, Green has long been regarded as one of the most intimidating enforces in the NBA. His elite defensive IQ allows him to play the free safety role for the Warriors’ defense, roaming in help defense and bolstering their paint protection.
Green has been vocal in the media as of late, campaigning for the DPOY award across multiple platforms in recent weeks.
Both players have built a solid case for the award, but we can only speculate on how voters will feel when they cast their ballots.
James Parker is an NBA writer for Ball Exclusives, follow him on X @TheJames_Parker
