Kawhi Leonard voted Defensive Player of the Year

03:27 - 23 April 2015

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Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard was named NBA Defensive Player of the Year on Thursday, edging Draymond Green in a close vote.

San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard was named as the NBA Defensive Player of the Year on Thursday, edging Draymond Green in a close vote.

Green actually received more first-place votes (45-37) than Leonard, but finished with fewer overall points.

Leonard, 23, is one of the league's most versatile operators, with the ability to shut down perimeter players and handle bigger, frontcourt opponents around the basket.

He led the NBA averaging 2.31 steals per game.

Top five (first-place votes in parenthesis):

Kawhi Leonard (37) - 333 pointsDraymond Green (45) - 317 pointsDeAndre Jordan (32) - 261 pointsAnthony Davis (11) -107 pointsRudy Gobert (2) - 33 points