Santa Cruz Warriors forward Braxton Key, who is on a two-way contract with Golden State, has been named the NBA G League’s Defensive Player of the Year for the 2024/25 season, according to an official announcement (Twitter link). The award is voted on by the league’s 31 head coaches and general managers.
Key appeared in a total of 49 G League games this year in the Tip-Off Tournament and regular season for the San Diego Clippers and Santa Cruz Warriors. He averaged a league-leading 2.6 steals per game to go along with 1.1 blocks per contest.
While both San Diego and Santa Cruz finished in the middle of the pack in defensive rating, the Clippers were significantly more effective on that end of the floor when Key was playing. San Diego had a 102.5 defensive rating during his minutes and a 113.7 mark when he wasn’t on the court. Santa Cruz, which finished the season with a 111.5 defensive rating, had a 109.2 mark during Key’s minutes.
Wisconsin Herd center Ibou Badji, who anchored the defense for the Bucks‘ G League affiliate with 3.5 blocks in just 22.4 minutes per game across 50 appearances, was the Defensive Player of the Year runner-up.
Rip City Remix guard Isaac Nogues finished third in the G League’s DPOY voting. He averaged 2.1 steals per contest across 40 games for the Trail Blazers‘ affiliate, which had a defensive rating of 107.8 when he was on the floor and 113.5 when he wasn’t.
Neither Badji nor Nogues is under contract with an NBA team. Key will be eligible for restricted free agency this offseason.
Another future Warriors perennial all star, lol? The G league isn’t good.
Mr. Overly-sensitive is back. Why are getting so defensive about GLeague players? Are you feeling a bit inadequate these days. Cheer up Bucky. It happens to a lot of guys.
Mr sensitive? That’s rich….don’t forget that 66% chance of the warriors beating OKC and Houston, lol. It’s funny when the most delusional fan base gets their feelings hurt. You guys been trolling for years, now it’s your turn.
It is called basic statistics. The Warriors have played OKC and Houston 6 times; they have won 4. That gives them a 66% probability. Nothing delusional about applying basic math.
The old CBA is better than the g league
Italy is better than G league ?
Def pays more