BOSTON -- For the last two seasons, Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green has been the runner-up for the Defensive Player of the Year award behind San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard.

Personal accolades aren’t what Green is about, but that’s one elusive honor he desperately wants to obtain.

“That’s something that I want to win,” Green told ESPN in an exclusive interview this week. “And if there’s anything I’ve ever been selfish about, it’s that award. Like, I want that award.”

Kyle Terada/USA TODAY Sports

He’s eighth in the league in total blocks with 19, and his average of 1.7 blocks per contest is ninth. At 6-foot-8, he’s the shortest shot-blocker in the top 15.

Green also has a knack for takeaways, ranking fifth in steals with a 2.3 average. And when it comes to switching defenses, the versatile power forward is more than comfortable guarding positions 1 through 5.

It is these qualities that make Green a dominant defensive force for the Warriors, worthy of securing a significant personal goal of his.

“That doesn’t bother me to say I’m selfish in that regard. I want that award bad,” Green reiterated to ESPN. “And that’s because I view myself as a defender. It’s like if I view myself as a scorer then I want to win the scoring title. If I am a scorer and I say I’m a scorer and that’s what I do, I want to win the scoring title because it says I was the best in this year at what I do. So that is something that I want to win.”

During Wednesday’s game against the Toronto Raptors, in particular, Green put his defensive prowess on display.

Raptors All-Star point guard Kyle Lowry caught Green on a switch in the first half and elected to go isolation near the top of the key. Lowry dribbled in place before penetrating toward the goal with Green connected to his hip. When he elevated for a difficult layup attempt, Green swatted away his shot.

Not long after that, Lowry eluded Stephen Curry on the baseline and appeared to have a clear path to the basket. But Green left his man and sprinted over for a spectacular chase-down block.

He ended the night with 11 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 blocks and 2 steals. Green's aggressiveness spearheaded a second-quarter defensive surge that limited the Raptors to 15 points in the quarter on 5-of-24 shooting (21 percent).

“He’s been great all year," Kevin Durant said of his frontcourt teammate. “He sets the tone for us, defending, making the right play, being aggressive on the offensive end and defensive end. He’s just a basketball player. You can’t hold him to just one thing. He does it all.”

And this season, Green wants to accomplish what he has fallen short on the past two seasons: dethroning Leonard and taking home the defensive hardware. He said he doesn’t feel he was robbed of the award in previous years; he said he just has to step up his game.

“Do I view anything as a snub? That’s not for me to view or for me to judge, because at the end of the day, Kawhi Leonard is a great defender,” Green said. “It’s one thing if somebody [inadequate] won and I’m like, ‘Hold on. Now I feel snubbed.’ To say you feel snubbed by Kawhi Leonard winning the Defensive Player of the Year is a bit much.”