Draymond Green wins Defensive Player of the Year

No more coming in second for Draymond Green.

After finishing as the runner-up in each of the last two seasons, Green finally won Defensive Player of the Year honors on Monday over finalists Kawhi Leonard and Rudy Gobert.

Green was the linchpin of the second-best defense in the league for a Golden State Warriors side that finished with the best regular-season record in the NBA and won the championship with a dominant 16-1 run through the playoffs. Green's ability to guard every position on the floor was the backbone of the Warriors' switch-heavy defense.

Individually, Green ranked second in defensive real plus-minus, led the league in steals, and averaged 1.4 blocks while holding opponents to the third-lowest shooting percentage at the rim.

Green's versatility eventually won out, but Leonard and Gobert were also worthy candidates. Leonard is the most tenacious on-ball defender in the league, while Gobert is the best rim protector.