San Antonio Spurs star Kawhi Leonard has been named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year 2015 ahead of Draymond Green.

The Spurs forward received 45 first-place votes, and finished with a total of 333 points with Green trailing in second place with 317.

DeAndre Jordan completed the top three with Anthony Davis and Rudy Gobert behind them.

The 23-year-old, who becomes the first perimeter defender since Ron Artest in 2004 to win the award, extended his good form into this regular season after winning the NBA MVP Finals award last year in the win over the Miami Heat.

Leonard averaged 7.2 rebounds and an NBA-best 2.3 steals per contest, and was tasked with guarding the best player on the opposing team most nights.