Last season saw San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard earn the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year award despite the fact that Golden State Warriors big man Draymond Green received more first-place votes.
It’s a ridiculous aspect of the voting process that no one has an explanation for. If you get the most first-place votes, you should win. It’s that simple.
Green himself felt like he should have earned that award after what was a breakout 2014-15 campaign.
Now, one year removed, Leonard and Green were going up against one another for the very same award. In reality, it was going to be one or the other.
When all the votes were counted, Leonard earned the award for the second consecutive season. The Spurs’ MVP candidate received 84 first-place votes compared to 44 for Green and just two for Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside.
After hearing he was runner-up for a second consecutive season, Green didn’t seem anywhere near as upset as he was last April:
Draymond on Kawhi winning DPOY: "I felt robbed last year (because Kawhi played fewer games). I didn't feel robbed this year"
— Ethan Strauss (@SherwoodStrauss) April 18, 2016
Let’s be clear here. Either one of them could have won the award and no one should have questioned it. Leonard’s ability to guard four different positions is by now well known.
Also well known is Green’s defensive tenacity and ability to guard any position on the court.
Heck, he started at center for an injured Andrew Bogut against DeAndre Jordan and the Los Angeles Clippers earlier in the year. That very same game saw Green go up against All-Star point guard Chris Paul numerous times.
For his part, Leonard finished the regular season averaging 1.8 steals and 1.0 blocks per game. He ended with the second-highest defensive win shares and third-best defensive rating in the Association.
On the other hand, Green averaged 1.5 steals, 1.4 blocks and 9.5 rebounds during what was an All-Star 2015-16 campaign.