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NBA Announces Major Draymond Green News Ahead of Game 3 vs. Rockets

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Cole Sullivan | Last updated Apr 25, 2025 2:32 PM ET

The Golden State Warriors stole Game 1 in Houston against the Rockets before dropping Game 2, evening the series at one game apiece heading into Saturday’s pivotal matchup.

Wednesday’s contest wasn’t without its share of controversy, as Warriors forward Draymond Green found himself at the center of multiple heated moments. His antics sparked a hostile response from the Houston crowd, who broke out into "[explicit] Draymond Green" chants throughout the night.

Despite the noise, Green’s impact on the court has been undeniable—and on Friday, the NBA made a major announcement: Draymond Green has officially been named the winner of the 2024–25 NBA Hustle Award.

"The award honors a player who makes the effort plays that do not appear in the box score but help determine team success," the NBA posted. "Rankings among the 143 eligible players who played a minimum of 58 games (70% of team total of 82) and at least 24 minutes per game. Hustle Stats are measured on a per-minute basis to even the comparison among players that play varying amounts of minutes per game."

Golden State Warriors forward-center Draymond Green is the winner of the 2024-25 NBA Hustle Award.

The award honors a player who makes the effort plays that do not often appear in the box score but help determine team success.

Inside Green's impact ➡️ https://t.co/rwSEDs8oaK pic.twitter.com/a9nDmVTvmP
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 25, 2025

Draymond Green has cemented himself as one of the premier defensive players of the past decade. After winning Defensive Player of the Year in 2017 and being named a finalist again this season, he now adds another accolade to his resume—becoming just the second former DPOY to win the NBA Hustle Award.

The last three recipients of the Hustle Award were all guards, with Alex Caruso winning it last year with the Chicago Bulls, and Marcus Smart taking it home in the two previous seasons.

Green’s 2024–25 campaign was packed with gritty stats: he ranked sixth in charges drawn, 15th in deflected passes, second in contested 3-point shots, and 10th in defensive boxouts. In total, he finished top 15 in five key hustle categories tracked by the NBA.

At 35 years old, Green also becomes the oldest player ever to win the Hustle Award—another testament to his relentless impact on the defensive end for the Warriors.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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