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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.

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