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The NBA has announced that Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green has been awarded the 2024-25 NBA Hustle Award.
A two-time Defensive Player of the Year, with his first win in 2017 and another nomination in 2025, Green joins an exclusive group as the second player ever to receive the Hustle Award after previously achieving this accolade. He follows in the footsteps of Marcus Smart, a three-time Hustle Award recipient and the 2022 Defensive Player of the Year.
Draymond Green, a forward-center for the Golden State Warriors, has clinched the 2024-25 NBA Hustle Award.
This honor recognizes players who consistently make impactful plays that may not be reflected in box score statistics but are crucial for a team’s success.
For more on his influence ➡️ https://t.co/rwSEDs8oaKpic.twitter.com/a9nDmVTvmP
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 25, 2025
The NBA Hustle Award is dedicated to players whose diligent efforts contribute to victories, even if those contributions aren’t prominently displayed in typical statistical summaries.
Since the 2016 Playoffs, the NBA has been tracking hustle statistics, such as deflections, recovered loose balls, charges taken, screen assists, contested shots, and box-outs, which can be found on NBA.com/Stats for both individual players and teams.
**Draymond Green’s Hustle Stats and Rankings**
*Note: Rankings are among 143 eligible players who participated in at least 58 games (70% of an 82-game season) and played a minimum of 24 minutes per game. Hustle stats are calculated on a per-minute basis to provide an equitable comparison among players with different minute allocations.*
Recognized as one of the most adaptable defenders in the league, Green’s journey to the Hustle Award showcases his diverse skill set.
Although he didn’t top any individual hustle statistic, Green made it into the top 15 across five different categories and uniquely became the first recipient in the award’s history to rank among the top 40 in all nine hustle metrics used for selection.
During the current season, Green shared a distinctive achievement with Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as the only players averaging at least 1.45 steals and 1.0 blocks per game while participating in no less than 40 games. His hustle metrics – placing 15th in deflections, 13th for contested 2-point shots, and 2nd in contested 3-point attempts – reflect his remarkable versatility.
Draymond Green continues to provide essential intangibles for the Warriors.
With accolades that include being a four-time NBA All-Star, a two-time All-NBA selection, and an eight-time All-Defensive Team member, Green stands out as the most decorated player to ever receive the Hustle Award. At 35 years old, he also claims the title of the oldest player to earn this distinction, demonstrating that relentless effort transcends age.
Green’s readiness to engage in unsung tasks – such as diving for loose balls, putting his body on the line for charges, setting vigorous screens for his teammates, guarding a wide range of opponents, and contesting shots throughout the court – has been vital to the Warriors’ achievements over the last decade.
Before being honored with the Hustle Award this season, Green recorded three top-five finishes in the past eight years, including a second-place finish in both the inaugural award season of 2016-17 and again in 2022-23, and a fourth-place result in 2020-21.
As the Warriors chase their fifth championship in 11 seasons—currently tied 1-1 in their first-round playoff series against Houston—Green’s blend of vigor, determination, resilience, and hustle will be crucial to their pursuit of another title.
