- 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.
Cleveland Cavaliers big man Evan Mobley secured his first Defensive Player of the Year trophy in 2024-25, receiving 35 first-place votes in a competitive race.
Mobley became the first Cleveland player to win DPOY. He is also the fifth player to win this award at 23 years old. No player younger than 23 has ever been named Defensive Player of the Year.
In his fourth NBA season, Mobley averaged 1.6 blocks and 9.3 rebounds per game for a Cavaliers team that claimed the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. Cleveland finished eighth in defensive rating.
This page will be updated when NBA betting odds for the 2026 Defensive Player of the Year market become available.
Odds to Win NBA Defensive Player of the Year
This NBA odds market won’t become available until later in the offseason, but it’s safe to assume that San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama will begin as the betting favorite.
Wembanyama entered the 2024-25 campaign as a -155 favorite to win DPOY in his second season, and appeared to be running away with the race by the All-Star break. He was trading as a -2500 favorite, averaging 3.8 blocks per game.
However, Wembanyama’s season was cut short after 46 games due to a blood clot in his right shoulder.
The news completely altered the DPOY race, and voters didn’t have a consensus pick. Mobley only received 35% of the first-place votes, which marked the lowest share since Kawhi Leonard won in 2015 with 29% of first-place votes.
Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels finished runner-up with 25 first-place votes, though his NBA-best three steals per game primarily influenced that. Golden State Warriors big man Draymond Green, who pushed his campaign after Wemby was sidelined, finished third with 15 first-place votes.
Luguentz Dort, Amen Thompson, Ivica Zubac, and Giannis Antetokounmpo received at least one first-place vote in a wide-open DPOY race.
Assuming Wemby is ready to go at the start of the season, this will be his award to lose.
That said, the 2024-25 campaign proved that this market is worth following all year due to voting inconsistency with this award.
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 |
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)
Related Articles
Live NBA Betting at BetMGM
At the BetMGM sportsbook, you have access to updated NBA odds throughout the season, including live sports betting.
Whether you’re looking for NBA betting lines, over/under totals, or prop bets, there are endless opportunities to bet online.
If you don’t have a sportsbook account, sign up for the BetMGM welcome promo, one of many sportsbook offers at BetMGM.
