Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green has been named the winner of the 2025 NBA Hustle Award, the league announced on Friday, April 25, 2025.

This marks the first time Green has captured the Hustle Award, which was introduced in 2017 to honor players whose “effort plays” — like deflections, loose ball recoveries, and charges drawn — make a significant impact beyond the traditional box score. Green’s relentless energy and defensive tenacity finally earned him this recognition after years of being a finalist.

The NBA’s hustle stats track key metrics such as charges taken, loose balls recovered, contested shots, deflections, and screens set. Green ranked within the top 40 across all nine tracked categories, a rare achievement. Although he was only in the top 10 for charges drawn and contested three-pointers, and in the top 20 for deflections and contested two-point shots, his overall consistency set him apart from competitors like Dyson Daniels (Atlanta Hawks) and Josh Hart (New York Knicks).

At 35 years old, Green becomes the oldest player ever to win the NBA Hustle Award. Over his 13-year NBA career, he has built an impressive resume that includes:

• Defensive Player of the Year (2017)

• Two All-NBA selections

• Eight All-Defensive Team honors

This season, Green also emerged as a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year again, showcasing his ongoing dominance on the defensive end.

Following Green, the top five Hustle Award finishers for the 2024-25 season were:

• Cason Wallace (Oklahoma City Thunder)

• Guerschon Yabusele (Philadelphia 76ers)

• Luguentz Dort (Oklahoma City Thunder)

• Dyson Daniels (Atlanta Hawks)

Patrick Beverley won the inaugural Hustle Award in 2017, while Marcus Smart — another former Defensive Player of the Year — claimed the title three times (2019, 2022, 2023). Last season’s winner was Alex Caruso (Chicago Bulls).

Green’s latest honor further cements his legacy as one of the greatest defensive and effort-driven players in NBA history.