NBA Defensive Player of the Year: Odds, winners, trophy, when is it awarded?

All you need to know about the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year Award, including the latest odds, past winners, when the award is announced, and more.

2024/25 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Odds

Evan Mobley	-170
Dyson Daniels	+450
Jaren Jackson Jr.	+500
Luguentz Dort	+1000
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander	+3500
Draymond Green	+6000
Ivica Zubac	+6000
Jalen Williams	+6000

San Antonio Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama entered the season as the Defensive Player of the Year favorite and held onto that status until late February, but he was ruled out for the season which has led to major market shifts.

Evan Mobley, power forward/center for the Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers, is the new favorite to win DPOY (-170).

The fourth-year player is averaging 0.8 steals and 1.6 blocks per game, he has helped the Cavs to the seventh-best defensive rating in the league, and he allows the fifth-lowest field goal percentage of any center as the nearest defender at 43.6 percent. Within six feet of the basket, he allows the seventh-lowest shooting percentage among centers (53.6).

Atlanta Hawks wing/guard Dyson Daniels has moved up to second in the betting (+450), and he has the shortest odds of any perimeter defender. Daniels, who hails from Australia and is nicknamed the Great Barrier Thief, is averaging an NBA-best 3.0 steals and ranks sixth in defensive box plus-minus (+2.6).

Jaren Jackson Jr., the Memphis Grizzlies forward/center and 2022/23 Defensive Player of the Year winner, is now the +500 third-favorite after he had been the -125 favorite right after Wemby's injury. He is averaging 1.3 steals and 1.6 blocks per game for a Grizz team that ranks 10th in defensive rating while allowing the sixth-lowest field goal percentage defensively, and he allows the lowest overall field goal percentage of any center (41.3 percent) in the NBA.

The last player at 10/1 or shorter is Oklahoma City Thunder guard/wing Luguentz Dort at +1000. Nicknamed "Dorture Chamber" for his ability to defend the perimeter, Dort allows the sixth-lowest overall field goal percentage among guards (41.4 percent), averages 1.1 steals and 0.6 blocks, and plays heavy minutes for the team with the best DRtg in the NBA.

The outsiders to win the 2024/25 DPOY Award, are Thunder point guard and MVP favorite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (+3500), Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (+6000), Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac (+6000), and Oklahoma City Thunder forward/wing Jalen Williams (+6000).

NBA Defensive Player of the Year Winners

Year	Winner	Team
2023-24	Rudy Gobert	Minnesota Timberwolves
2022-23	Jaren Jackson Jr.	Memphis Grizzlies
2021-22	Marcus Smart	Boston Celtics
2020-21	Rudy Gobert	Utah Jazz
2019-20	Giannis Antetokounmpo	Milwaukee Bucks
2018-19	Rudy Gobert	Utah Jazz
2017-18	Rudy Gobert	Utah Jazz
2016-17	Draymond Green	Golden State Warriors
2015-16	Kawhi Leonard	San Antonio Spurs
2014-15	Kawhi Leonard	San Antonio Spurs
2013-14	Joakim Noah	Chicago Bulls
2012-13	Marc Gasol	Memphis Grizzlies
2011-12	Tyson Chandler	New York Knicks
2010-11	Dwight Howard	Orlando Magic
2009-10	Dwight Howard	Orlando Magic
2008-09	Dwight Howard	Orlando Magic
2007-08	Kevin Garnett	Boston Celtics
2006-07	Marcus Camby	Denver Nuggets
2005-06	Ben Wallace	Detroit Pistons
2004-05	Ben Wallace	Detroit Pistons
2003-04	Ron Artest	Indiana Pacers
2002-03	Ben Wallace	Detroit Pistons
2001-02	Ben Wallace	Detroit Pistons
2000-01	Dikembe Mutombo	Philadelphia 76ers
1999-00	Alonzo Mourning	Miami Heat
1998-99	Alonzo Mourning	Miami Heat
1997-98	Dikembe Mutombo	Houston Rockets
1996-97	Dikembe Mutombo	Atlanta Hawks
1995-96	Gary Payton	Seattle SuperSonics
1994-95	Dikembe Mutombo	Denver Nuggets
1993-94	Hakeem Olajuwon	Houston Rockets
1992-93	Hakeem Olajuwon	Houston Rockets
1991-92	David Robinson	San Antonio Spurs
1990-91	Dennis Rodman	Detroit Pistons
1989-90	Dennis Rodman	Detroit Pistons
1988-89	Mark Eaton	Utah Jazz
1987-88	Michael Jordan	Chicago Bulls
1986-87	Michael Cooper	Los Angeles Lakers
1985-86	Alvin Robertson	San Antonio Spurs
1984-85	Mark Eaton	Utah Jazz
1983-84	Sidney Moncrief	Milwaukee Bucks
1982-83	Sidney Moncrief	Milwaukee Bucks

When is NBA Defensive Player of the Year announced?

The NBA Defensive Player of the Year award is typically announced during the NBA Playoffs. In 2024, the announcement that Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert won the award came on May 7.

Who votes on the NBA Defensive Player of the Year?

The NBA Defensive Player of the Year award is voted on by a panel of 124 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada.

Each member of the voting panel casts a vote for their first, second, and third place selections, with each vote worth five, three, and one point, respectively. The player with the highest point total, regardless of first-place votes, wins the award.

NBA Defensive Player of the Year trophy

The trophy for the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award is named after Hakeem Olajuwon, one of the greatest defensive players in NBA history. The trophy is a crystal-sculpted basket that holds a gold player figurine in a classic defensive stance.

Odds displayed within this article were correct at the time of writing and are subject to change.