Warriors star Draymond Green is not the favorite for DPOY award, says NBA champion with Boston

Draymond Green has had excellent performances recently with the Golden State Warriors, excelling particularly on the defensive end. His efforts have led him to position himself as a favorite for the Defensive Player of the Year award, especially in light of Victor Wembanyama’s injury. Yet, a former NBA champion with the Boston Celtics believes differently.

“Dray my boy, he locks stuff up, and he do a lot of stuff on the court, man,” Tony Allen began during a recent interview on Run It Back. “He’s like one of those, man I don’t know football that well, but he’s like a safety. He get everybody in the right place, being on the backside of the defense.”

When asked about the Warriors forward’s chances of winning the Defensive Player of the Year award for the second time in his career, Allen was straightforward. “Draymond, you know, he’s gonna politic himself. He knows he gotta put himself in the name for that,” he explained.

However, the 2008 NBA champion then made a candid admission about Green. “I wouldn’t have him as my favorite. My favorite is the guy from Atlanta,” Tony said, referring to Hawks player Dyson Daniels. “You know me, I’m always being favorable to the guards, man.”

Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels.

Tony Allen praises Dyson Daniels

Allen then elaborated on why Daniels is his favorite defensive player in the NBA right now. “I like Dyson. He’s all over the court, man. He’s in the passing lane. I’ve been watching him, too,” the former Celtics star explained. “When bigs get that ball on that mid-post and they turn their head, he sprint from that corner, ripping those from behind.”

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Finally, Tony added: “I like his game. And he’s up for the challenge. I done seen him come down here in Memphis and get a key stop for a game-winner with (Caris) LeVert. I was actually at that game. I’m like, ‘This boy can really play defense.‘”

Daniels vs. Green in numbers

Dyson Daniels currently leads the NBA in steals, averaging 3.1 steals per game, with the closest competitor being Dejounte Murray of the New Orleans Pelicans at 2.0. Draymond Green ranks 31st in that category, with 1.4. In total steals, Daniels has 202 steals this season, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the closest player, has 120.

Green surpasses Daniels in other statistical categories, such as blocks (Draymond averages 1.1 per game, while Dyson averages 0.7) and defensive rebounds (Green with 5.0, Daniels with 4.1), but it is clear that the numbers alone won’t define the award. The impact each player has on the court with their respective teams will also weigh heavily in the decision.