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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

Victor Wembanyama

-200

Chet Holmgren

+1000

Bam Adebayo

+1400

Rudy Gobert

+1500

Evan Mobley

+1800

Anthony Davis

+2000

Jaren Jackson Jr.

+2000

Giannis Antetokounmpo

+2800

OG Anunoby

+3300

Entering his second NBA season, San Antonio Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama is the heavy -200 favorite to win the 2024/25 Defensive Player of the Year Award.

Wemby blocked a league-leading 3.6 shots per game in 2023/24, which saw him finish second in voting for this award and earned him an All-Defensive first team spot.

Second in the odds is Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren, who is also entering his second season. He swatted 2.3 shots per game, finished second in 2023/24 Rookie of the Year voting, and held opponents to a 45.5 field goal percentage which only two centers - Bam Adebayo and Rudy Gobert - bettered.

Miami Heat center Adebayo, who had the second-best defensive field goal percentage among centers to play at least 65 games last season, is third in the market. He averaged 1.1 steals and 0.9 blocks last season, and the 6-foot-9 center is an expert at using his body to make opponents' shots difficult.

Fourth in the market is four-time DPOY winner and Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert, who anchored one of the best defensive teams in NBA history last season. The 7-foot-1 center blocked 2.1 shots per game and held opponents to a field goal percentage of 43.5 percent, the best of any center, which earned him his fourth DPOY Award.

Cleveland Cavaliers forward/center Evan Mobley is fifth in the odds. He blocked 1.4 shots per game and held opponents to 53.8 percent shooting within six feet of the basket while being limited to just 50 games last season. Back in 2022/23, he earned a spot on the All-Defensive first team.

Further back in the odds, between 20/1 and 45/1, are Los Angeles Lakers forward/center Anthony Davis, Memphis Grizzlies forward/center and 2022/23 DPOY winner Jaren Jackson Jr., Milwaukee Bucks forward and 2019/20 DPOY winner Giannis Antetokounmpo, New York Knicks wing OG Anunoby, Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid, and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso.

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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