By Larry Rupp
It’s safe to say today’s NBA is full of big-time playmakers and dynamic sharpshooters that are capable of taking over the game at any given time. While it may be aesthetically pleasing to watch 3-pointers rain down from deep, it’s also important to remember that defense remains at the core of every contending team.
That’s why the impact of having someone like Draymond Green or Rudy Gobert on the roster cannot be understated. These two players have showcased elite defensive skills for years and currently find themselves at the top of the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Odds, according to DraftKings Sportsbook.
Draymond Green (+175)
Don’t look now, but Green is in the midst of one of the best seasons of his career. He acts as the defensive leader on a team that is giving up the fewest points per game in the NBA. In fact, the Golden State Warriors have ranked among the top-five NBA teams in defensive efficiency all season long. And Green’s ability to cover all five positions gives coach Steve Kerr the flexibility to put his best players out on the court when it matters the most.
Of course, the 10th-year veteran is no stranger to being recognized for his defensive efforts. Green has been named to the NBA’s All-Defensive first team three times and has been named to the second team three times as well. Most important, the 31-year-old was named NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year during the 2016-17 season. That was the same year in which the Warriors finished 67-15 and went on to win the title.
Golden State is set to compete for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, which means there will be no shortage of national coverage on this team. It’ll be interesting to see if Green can keep up his current pace and take home the honors here.
"No." -Draymond Green pic.twitter.com/51QCpFo9hh
— Charlie Cummings (@klaytheist11) December 1, 2021
Rudy Gobert (+200)
Utah’s Rudy Gobert entered the season as the favorite to be named NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year, and for good reason. The Frenchman has won the award in three of the last four years and is capable of destroying any opposing team’s offensive strategies with his shot-blocking abilities. In fact, Gobert has averaged more than 2.0 blocks per game in each of his last eight seasons and is racking up steals at a career-high rate in 2021. Simply put, his consistency is what sets him apart from the pack.
No one is putting up an uncontested shot when guarded by Gobert, whether it is out on the perimeter or down in the paint. The two-time All-Star’s wingspan has been measured at more than 7-foot-8, which also gives him an unheralded capability to get rebounds. Gobert is leading the NBA in that category through the first few months of the season, and there is no reason to believe he will stop racking up boards on a nightly basis.
Green is going to have his hands full trying to stave off Gobert in these odds for the rest of the season. And this is a competition worth keeping an eye on all the way until the regular season comes to a close.
Rudy Gobert This Season
— Kirk Goldsberry (@kirkgoldsberry) November 29, 2021
✅Most total shots defended
✅Lowest eFG% allowed as closest defender pic.twitter.com/PcsGRdlcg6
Picture Credit: Wikimedia
