- Get the latest betting odds on the top favorites for the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year award.
- Cleveland Cavaliers big man Evan Mobley won his first DPOY award in 2024-25.
The 2024-25 NBA Defensive Player of the Year race turned on its head after the All-Star break.
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama appeared on his way to winning the DPOY trophy before his season was cut short after 46 games due to a blood clot in his right shoulder. With Wemby ineligible, Cleveland Cavaliers big man Evan Mobley stepped in and won the award.
Could a similar situation be unfolding once again? Take a look at the latest NBA odds in the Defensive Player of the Year market for the 2025-26 season:
Odds to Win NBA Defensive Player of the Year 2026
| Player | Team | Current Odds | Preseason Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chet Holmgren | Thunder | +140 | +650 |
| Victor Wembanyama | Spurs | +300 | -190 |
| Bam Adebayo | Heat | +600 | +10000 |
| Amen Thompson | Rockets | +900 | +1300 |
| Evan Mobley | Cavaliers | +2000 | +1400 |
| Scottie Barnes | Raptors | +2000 | +25000 |
| Draymond Green | Warriors | +2200 | +5000 |
| Dyson Daniels | Hawks | +2500 | +2500 |
| Ausar Thompson | Pistons | +3000 | +4000 |
| Rudy Gobert | Timberwolves | +5000 | +12500 |
| Cason Wallace | Thunder | +5000 | OTB |
| Luguentz Dort | Thunder | +8000 | +5000 |
| Jalen Suggs | Magic | +8000 | +5000 |
| Mikal Bridges | Knicks | +8000 | +50000 |
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Thunder | +10000 | +25000 |
Who Will Win NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2026?
For the second straight year, Wembanyama’s health caused a shake-up in the Defensive Player of the Year odds. Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren is the new betting favorite to win DPOY, trading at +140 odds for an implied probability of 41.67%.
Wembanyama grabbed a commanding lead in the DPOY race out of the gates. After entering the year with a -190 price tag, Wembanyama was trading at -300 before he was sidelined with a left calf strain for a month.
After returning to action, Wembanyama is +300 to win his first Defensive Player of the Year trophy. He must play at least 65 games to be eligible for the award. He’s missed 12 regular-season games, though it was recently reported that the NBA Cup championship would count toward his total games played, despite the stats not being official.
With the NBA final on his resume, Wembanyama can miss six more contests to remain eligible for any end-of-season honors.
Wembanyama went through a similar situation last year, as he was well on his way to becoming the youngest Defensive Player of the Year in NBA history. He was an overwhelming favorite after increasing his blocks average to 3.8 while also adding 9.2 defensive rebounds and 1.1 steals per contest.
However, Wembanyama was shut down after the break due to a blood clot. It opened up the race, allowing Mobley to win his first DPOY trophy. Mobley averaged 1.6 blocks and 9.3 rebounds per game for a Cleveland team that ranked eighth in points allowed per 100 possessions.
More importantly, voters went away from their usual formula of picking the best defensive player on the best defensive team. For 12 straight seasons between 2013 and 2024, the DPOY winner came from a team that ranked first or second in points allowed per 100 possessions.
Had voters followed that pattern, they would have tabbed someone from the Thunder, who were a historically elite defense last year. The problem was that it was unclear which player deserved the most credit, especially given Holmgren’s limited 32-game season.
With Holmgren healthy this time around, that shouldn’t be a problem. He’s averaging 1.5 blocks and 6.5 defensive rebounds for the top-ranked defensive team in the league. The Thunder’s defensive rating is seven points better than the next team.
If Wembanyama isn’t able to play 65 games, perhaps it will allow the Thunder to get the defensive recognition they deserve at the end of the year.
Prediction: Chet Holmgren
NBA Defensive Player of the Year Voting, 2024-25
| Rank | Name | Team | Vote Pts | 1st Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evan Mobley | CLE | 285 | 35 |
| 2 | Dyson Daniels | ATL | 197 | 25 |
| 3 | Draymond Green | GSW | 154 | 15 |
| 4 | Luguentz Dort | OKC | 109 | 11 |
| 5 | Amen Thompson | HOU | 93 | 9 |
| 6 | Ivica Zubac | LAC | 34 | 4 |
| 7 | Jaren Jackson Jr. | MEM | 9 | 0 |
| 8 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | MIL | 5 | 1 |
| 9 | Toumani Camara | POR | 4 | 0 |
| 10 | Bam Adebayo | MIA | 3 | 0 |
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | OKC | 3 | 0 | |
| Derrick White | BOS | 3 | 0 | |
| 13 | Rudy Gobert | MIN | 1 | 0 |
List of Defensive Player of the Year Winners
| Year | Name | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | Evan Mobley | CLE |
| 2023-24 | Rudy Gobert | MIN |
| 2022-23 | Jaren Jackson Jr. | MEM |
| 2021-22 | Marcus Smart | BOS |
| 2020-21 | Rudy Gobert | UTA |
| 2019-20 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | MIL |
| 2018-19 | Rudy Gobert | UTA |
| 2017-18 | Rudy Gobert | UTA |
| 2016-17 | Draymond Green | GSW |
| 2015-16 | Kawhi Leonard | SAS |
| 2014-15 | Kawhi Leonard | SAS |
| 2013-14 | Joakim Noah | CHI |
| 2012-13 | Marc Gasol | MEM |
| 2011-12 | Tyson Chandler | NYK |
| 2010-11 | Dwight Howard | ORL |
| 2009-10 | Dwight Howard | ORL |
| 2008-09 | Dwight Howard | ORL |
| 2007-08 | Kevin Garnett | BOS |
| 2006-07 | Marcus Camby | DEN |
| 2005-06 | Ben Wallace | DET |
| 2004-05 | Ben Wallace | DET |
| 2003-04 | Metta World Peace | IND |
| 2002-03 | Ben Wallace | DET |
| 2001-02 | Ben Wallace | DET |
| 2000-01 | Dikembe Mutombo | TOT |
| 1999-00 | Alonzo Mourning | MIA |
| 1998-99 | Alonzo Mourning | MIA |
| 1997-98 | Dikembe Mutombo | ATL |
| 1996-97 | Dikembe Mutombo | ATL |
| 1995-96 | Gary Payton | SEA |
| 1994-95 | Dikembe Mutombo | DEN |
| 1993-94 | Hakeem Olajuwon | HOU |
| 1992-93 | Hakeem Olajuwon | HOU |
| 1991-92 | David Robinson | SAS |
| 1990-91 | Dennis Rodman | DET |
| 1989-90 | Dennis Rodman | DET |
| 1988-89 | Mark Eaton | UTA |
| 1987-88 | Michael Jordan | CHI |
| 1986-87 | Michael Cooper | LAL |
| 1985-86 | Alvin Robertson | SAS |
| 1984-85 | Mark Eaton | UTA |
| 1983-84 | Sidney Moncrief | MIL |
| 1982-83 | Sidney Moncrief | MIL |
Who Has Won the Most Defensive Player of the Year Awards in NBA History?
Three different players have won four Defensive Player of the Awards in NBA history:
- Rudy Gobert (2018, 2019, 2021, 2024)
- Dikembe Mutombo (1995, 1997, 1998, 2001)
- Ben Wallace (2002, 2003, 2005, 2006)
Who is the Oldest Player to Win NBA Defensive Player of the Year?
Dikembe Mutombo is the oldest player to win NBA’s DPOY award, claiming the honor at 34 years old during the 2000-01 season.
Who is the Youngest Player to Win NBA Defensive Player of the Year?
Dwight Howard is the youngest player to win NBA’s DPOY award, accomplishing the feat at 23 years and 128 days during the 2025 season.
There have been five players to win DPOY at 23 years old in the history of the league:
- Alvin Robertson (1985-86)
- Dwight Howard (2008-09)
- Kawhi Leonard (2014-15)
- Jaren Jackson Jr. (2022-23)
- Evan Mobley (2024-25)
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