- Get the latest betting odds on the top favorites for the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year award.
- Spurs center Victor Wembanyama is a -200 favorite to win his first award in 2024-25.
- Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert won his fourth DPOY trophy in 2023-24.
The NBAโs Defensive Player of the Year award selection process is straightforward. Voters tend to pick the best defensive player on one of the best defensive teams in the league.
That formula led to Rudy Gobert claiming his fourth DPOY award in 2023-24. He anchored a Minnesota Timberwolves team that ranked first in defensive rating and first in points allowed per 100 possessions.
Remarkably, 11 of the previous 12 winners have played on a team that ranked first or second in defensive rating. All 12 of those DPOY winners were on a team that ranked first or second in points allowed per 100 possessions, a testament to the consistency of this formula.
With that in mind, here is a look at the latest NBA betting odds and the best predictions for the DPOY race in 2024-25:
Odds to Win NBA Defensive Player of the Year 2024-25
| Player | Team | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Victor Wembanyama | Spurs | -200 |
| Jaren Jackson Jr. | Grizzlies | +600 |
| Evan Mobley | Cavaliers | +1400 |
| Draymond Green | Warriors | +1400 |
| Bam Adebayo | Heat | +2500 |
| Jalen Suggs | Magic | +2500 |
| Rudy Gobert | Timberwolves | +3500 |
| Dyson Daniels | Hawks | +3500 |
| Anthony Davis | Lakers | +5000 |
| Dillon Brooks | Rockets | +5000 |
NBA Defensive Player of the Year Odds: Wembanyama Still Favored
Victor Wembanyama was initially listed as a -225 favorite for NBA Rookie of the Year odds, with his value climbing to as high as -250. At the time, he was the most significant preseason favorite for any NBA award since at least 2003.
I advised against betting on him at his initial price, which turned out to be the right call. His odds eventually shifted to plus-money before an injury to Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren caused his value to return to -200. At this price, the 7-foot-4 phenom has an implied 66.67% chance of winning the award.
Itโs worth noting that Wembanyama must play at least 65 games to qualify for this award.
However, with improved odds, Iโm more willing to take that risk. Last year, he averaged an impressive 3.6 blocks, 1.2 steals, and 8.4 defensive rebounds per game, solidifying his potential to win multiple Defensive Player of the Year awards in the future.
Betting on Wemby also hinges on the Spurs’ overall improvement. The team ranked 22nd in defensive rating and 21st in points allowed per 100 possessions last season.
So far this season, the Spurs rank 17th in defensive rating.
NBA Defensive Player of the Year Betting Splits
Here are the latest betting insights for the Defensive Player of the Year market at the online sportsbook:
- Most tickets: Victor Wembanyama 21.6%
- Highest handle: Victor Wembanyama 32.2%
- Biggest liability: Chet Holmgren
- Odds leader: Victor Wembanyama
2023-24 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Voting
| Rank | Name | Team | Vote Pts | 1st Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rudy Gobert | MIN | 433 | 72 |
| 2 | Victor Wembanyama | SAS | 245 | 19 |
| 3 | Bam Adebayo | MIA | 91 | 3 |
| 4 | Anthony Davis | LAL | 83 | 4 |
| 5 | Herbert Jones | NOP | 14 | 0 |
| 6 | Jrue Holiday | BOS | 7 | 1 |
| 7 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | OKC | 6 | 0 |
| 8 | Derrick White | BOS | 5 | 0 |
| 9 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | MIL | 3 | 0 |
| T10 | Jarrett Allen | CLE | 1 | 0 |
| T10 | Alex Caruso | CHI | 1 | 0 |
| T10 | Domantas Sabonis | SAC | 1 | 0 |
| T10 | Jalen Suggs | ORL | 1 | 0 |
List of Defensive Player of the Year Winners
| Year | Name | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
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