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Victor Wembanyama is the favorite to win the 2025 NBA Defensive Player of the Year award
Evan Mobley is the top contender to win Defensive Player of the Year in 2025
Rudy Gobert won Defensive Player of the Year in 2024
The second half of the regular season is set to begin, and Victor Wembanyama stands as the heavy favorite to win the award! At WSN, we're locked in on the race for the 2025 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, offering the latest odds, predictions, and analyses for the 2024-25 NBA season!
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Victor Wembanyama remains the front-runner for Defensive Player of the Year, looking to maintain his dominance through the second half of the season. Evan Mobley and Jaren Jackson Jr. remain in the chase, but neither has made strides to overtake Wembanyama as the favorite. Meanwhile, Luguentz Dort and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander have bolstered the Thunder’s elite defense, solidifying their spots among the top contenders.
Let’s check out the bets!
My Pick: Victor Wembanyama (-2400) at FanDuel
Victor Wembanyama stands alone at the top of the Defensive Player of the Year race, showcasing elite defensive instincts all season. Despite the Spurs struggling to stay in the playoff hunt, his impact has been undeniable. Wembanyama has been a game-changer on defense, leading the NBA in blocks and setting the standard across the NBA.
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| Season | Team | Age | Games | MPG | PPG | RPG | SPG | BPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | SAS | 21 | 46 | 33.2 | 24.3 | 11.0 | 1.1 | 3.8 |
Victor Wembanyama has quickly established himself as one of the NBA’s brightest young stars and a legitimate Defensive Player of the Year contender in his second professional season. In the two games leading up to the All-Star break, he posted impressive averages of 24.0 points, 14.0 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks, shooting 51.4% from the field and 42.9% from deep. His standout performance came in a ten-point victory over the Wizards, where he dominated with 31 points, 15 rebounds, four assists, three blocks, and five made threes, shooting 57.1% in the win.
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| Season | Team | Age | Games | MPG | PPG | RPG | SPG | BPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | CLE | 22 | 48 | 30.0 | 18.5 | 9.1 | 0.9 | 1.5 |
Evan Mobley will try to help the Cleveland Cavaliers secure the top seed in the West when he leads them through the second half of the regular season. He closed out his pre-All-Star break week, averaging 20.0 points, 12.5 rebounds, 3.0 blocks, and 1.0 steals per game on 60.0% from the field and 20.0% from deep. He stood out in a win over Minnesota, putting up 28 points, 10 rebounds, four blocks, and two steals.
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| Season | Team | Age | Games | MPG | PPG | RPG | SPG | BPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | MEM | 25 | 52 | 29.8 | 23.0 | 6.0 | 1.3 | 1.6 |
Jaren Jackson Jr. has been one of the top players for the Memphis Grizzlies this season, rounding back into Defensive Player of the Year form. In two games before the midseason break, Jackson Jr. put up 15.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, and 1.0 steals per game on 37.9% shooting. He was vital to their success in a win over the Suns, putting up 17 points, six rebounds, two steals, and one block.
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| Season | Team | Age | Games | MPG | PPG | RPG | SPG | BPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | OKC | 25 | 50 | 29.0 | 10.0 | 4.2 | 1.1 | 0.6 |
Luguentz Dort is the defensive anchor for the Oklahoma City Thunder, setting the standard for the NBA’s top defense. An on-ball defender, Dort’s efforts don’t always end up on the stat sheet, averaging 12.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.0 steals last week. His impact is undeniable, though, putting up 17 points, three steals, and one block in a 14-point win over the Heat before the All-Star break.
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| Season | Team | Age | Games | MPG | PPG | RPG | SPG | BPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | OKC | 26 | 53 | 34.0 | 32.5 | 5.1 | 1.9 | 1.0 |
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has emerged as a dark horse Defensive Player of the Year candidate, driving the Oklahoma City Thunder to the top of the Western Conference. In his final three games before the All-Star Break, he put up 29.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.7 steals, shooting 42.9% from the field and 45.0% from deep. He accumulated three steals and a block in a 36-point win over the Pelicans in his standout defensive showing of the night.
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Rudy Gobert of the Minnesota Timberwolves won the 2024 NBA Defensive Player of the Year award. It was the fourth time Gobert had been awarded the Hakeem Olajuwon Trophy, placing him with Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace as the most winning players.
Gobert averaged 14.0 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks on 44.6% from the field in his award-winning season. He also helped the Minnesota Timberwolves to the league’s top-ranked defense and the third seed in the Western Conference.
Gobert is now one of three players to win Defensive Player of the Year four times.
Ten players have won Defensive Player of the Year twice or more. Dikembe Mutombo, Ben Wallace, and Rudy Gobert lead the pack with four victories, but there are many more players to recognize.
Players to win Defensive Player of the Year multiple times:
| Times Won | Player | Year | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Dikembe Mutombo | 1995, 1997, 1998, 2001 | Denver Nuggets, Atlanta Hawks |
| 4 | Ben Wallace | 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006 | Detroit Pistons |
| 4 | Rudy Gobert | 2018, 2019, 2021, 2024 | Utah Jazz, Minnesota Timberwolves |
| 3 | Dwight Howard | 2009, 2010, 2011 | Orlando Magic |
| 2 | Sidney Moncrief | 1983, 1984 | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 2 | Mark Eaton | 1985, 1989 | Utah Jazz |
| 2 | Dennis Rodman | 1990, 1991 | Detroit Pistons |
| 2 | Hakeem Olajuwon | 1993, 1994 | Houston Rockets |
| 2 | Alonzo Mourning | 1999, 2000 | Miami Heat |
| 2 | Kawhi Leonard | 2015, 2016 | San Antonio Spurs |
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Christian Jope
NBA Betting Analyst
| Email: | [email protected] |
|---|---|
| Nationality: | Canadian |
| Education: | Bachelor of Arts (Applied Economics) |
| Favourite Sportsbook: | FanDuel Sportsbook |
| Favourite Casino: | BetMGM Casino |
| Experience: | 6 years |
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