Since Draymond Green’s return, the Warriors have regained their form, boasting one of the league’s top defenses and looking more like a second-round contender than a play-in bubble team.
The conversation around the DPOY race is starting to feel repetitive. As always, award discussions get caught up in endless debates and shifting narratives. So, why is Evan Mobley losing traction in this race?
Perhaps it’s because he doesn’t put himself in the spotlight. Green, on the other hand, is loud, unapologetic, and an outspoken public figure. Long before launching his podcast, Green made his opinions clear without hesitation.
Mobley’s case is being overshadowed by Green’s constant self-promotion, including his critiques of past snubs (like losing to Rudy Gobert) and Udonis Haslem’s unprovoked attack on Mobley on national TV. Mobley’s quiet approach is hurting his chances—he’s simply not as vocal about his candidacy.
In a way, the world of sports discourse mirrors real-life conversations—loud voices often drown out the quiet ones, even if they’re in the right. Green is adept at generating attention, not through statistics or sound reasoning, but by playing into media narratives that keep him in the conversation.
No stat can prove that Mobley isn’t the rightful DPOY. If he doesn’t win, it won’t be due to a drop in his performance, but because he stays true to himself, refusing to push a campaign or generate media buzz like some other players might. Mobley won’t turn his defense into an award narrative like Timothée Chalamet did at the Oscars this year.
If Mobley loses out on the DPOY, it won’t be because of his defensive skills, but because he doesn’t play the game of public self-promotion.