Draymond named NBA All-Defensive First Team for fourth time

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Draymond Green on Monday afternoon was honored for his defensive efforts this season.

The Warriors forward was named All-Defensive First Team, the NBA announced.

Draymond, who finished in third place in the Defensive Player of the Year voting, now has six All-Defensive selections on his resumé -- First Team in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2021 and Second Team in 2018 and 2019.

Draymond's Warriors teammate Eric Paschall gave his teammate love after the announcement.

The three-time NBA champion received 80 votes for First Team and 16 votes for Second Team, which means he was left off only four ballots.

"Draymond to me is the best defender in the league," Steve Kerr said in mid-May. I know [Ben] Simmons and [Rudy] Gobert are excellent. I just think what Draymond does across the board, from guarding point guards to guarding centers, the other guys don’t do that.

"They’re much more specialized in their roles defensively."

Draymond a week prior to Kerr's comments presented his case to The Athletic's Sam Amick.

"One thing I am certain of is that I can f--k up an entire team’s offense," he said. "And so, when you look at the impact that I have on the defensive side of the ball, it’s not always going to show up in blocked shots. It’s not always going to show up in steals.

"But I guarantee you it shows up in your favorite-player-who-I-may-be-playing-against’s mind. It shows up in what they’re able to do, as opposed to what they’re trying to get to. 

"I think being able to control the game on the defensive side of the ball [is key] when you start talking Defensive Player of the Year."

Draymond certainly isn't wrong about that.

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