Victor Wembanyama is the favorite to win the 2025 NBA Defensive Player of the Year award.
Chet Holmgren is the top contender to win Defensive Player of the Year in 2025.
Rudy Gobert won Defensive Player of the Year in 2024.
The first week of the NBA season is through, and the league's top defenders have already begun to make a name for themselves. The top of the table houses some vote-getters from last year, but new names have also made their way up the list. 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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Still atop the odds table for Defensive Player of the Year, Victor Wembanyama remains the favorite to take home the award in 2025. However, just like last year, Chet Holmgren has already begun his campaign to challenge for the prize. Joining them at the top are the experienced trio of Evan Mobley, Anthony Davis, and Bam Adebayo – whose defensive efforts have helped their teams through the season's opening week.
Through his rookie season, Victor Wembanyama already set the precedent that he is a contender for Defensive Player of the Year. Individually, he stacks up against any defender in the league, but his woeful San Antonio Spurs team held him back. With an improved roster and a year of experience, don’t expect Wemby to be held back from the award in his sophomore season.
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Who Is the Favorite to Win NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2025?
(C) Victor Wembanyama - San Antonio Spurs (+125) at Caesars
Season
Team
Age
Games
MPG
PPG
RPG
SPG
BPG
2024-25
SAS
21
3
31.3
20.0
12.0
0.0
2.7
Victor Wembanyama enters the season after an impressive silver medal-winning campaign at the Paris Olympics. The Spurs remained in the bottom third of the Western Conference through three games, but Wembanyama maintained his excellent play. He stood out against the Rockets in his last match, putting up 14 points, 20 rebounds, and four blocks despite a five-point loss. Measuring 7 '4 with an incredible wingspan and stellar athleticism, Wembanyama’s presence on the defensive end is among the best in the league.
Who Are the Contenders for 2025 NBA Defensive Player of the Year?
Chet Holmgren - Oklahoma City Thunder (+210) at Caesars
Season
Team
Age
Games
MPG
PPG
RPG
SPG
BPG
2024-25
OKC
22
3
32.7
23.7
13.0
1.3
4.0
The NBA’s current blocks leader is Chet Holmgren, last year’s runner-up for Rookie of the Year. The Thunder are undefeated through three games this season, and Holmgren’s presence in the paint has been as crucial as starman Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s offense. Holmgren collected six blocks in his last game, a 24-point win over the Hawks, and four against the Nuggets on opening night. Long, athletic, and intelligent on the defensive end, don’t be surprised to see Holmgren for the favorite position soon.
Evan Mobley - Cleveland Cavaliers (+900) at Caesars
Season
Team
Age
Games
MPG
PPG
RPG
SPG
BPG
2024-25
CLE
22
4
31.7
17.8
9.0
1.5
2.5
The Cleveland Cavaliers have gotten off to a brilliant start this season, being the only undefeated team in the East besides the reigning NBA Champion Boston Celtics. Much of their success is due to Evan Mobley having a career season through the early phases of the schedule. He set the tone on opening night, putting up 25 points, nine rebounds, three blocks, and two steals in just 26 minutes of a 30-point win. Most recently, Mobley helped his team win over the Knicks. He is in All-Star form.
Anthony Davis - Los Angeles Lakers (+1000) at Caesars
Season
Team
Age
Games
MPG
PPG
RPG
SPG
BPG
2024-25
LAL
31
4
37.0
32.8
12.0
1.5
2.5
Anthony Davis has taken headlines with the Los Angeles Lakers because of his fantastic offensive play through the season's first week. But Davis hasn't taken a break on the defensive side of the ball to compensate. Not only is he leading his team in scoring, but Davis is leading the Lakers with 12.0 rebounds per game while collecting 2.5 blocks and 1.5 steals. His presence on both ends is a significant factor in why the Lakers are off to a 3-1 start to the season.
Who is the Dark Horse to Win 2025 Defensive Player of the Year?
Bam Adebayo - Miami Heat (+1500) at Caesars
Season
Team
Age
Games
MPG
PPG
RPG
SPG
BPG
2024-25
MIA
27
3
31.0
11.0
8.7
1.3
1.3
Bam Adebayo has helped his Miami Heat to a 2-1 start, overcoming their opening night disappointment against the Orlando Magic. While the Heat haven’t played any potential playoff teams since opening night, Adebayo’s defensive consistency is the cornerstone of Miami’s game plan. In his most recent game, a win over the Pistons, he put up 12 points, ten rebounds, three steals, and three blocks. If he can maintain his production against top-ranked teams, Adebayo can be a real contender.
Who Was the 2024 NBA Defensive Player of the Year?
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.
Are There Any Multi-Time Defensive Player of the Year Winners?
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
NBA Defensive Player of the Year FAQs
Does the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Receive a Prize?
The NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award winner doesn’t receive a prize beyond the Hakeem Olajuwon Trophy. In terms of cash incentives or bonuses, there are none.
It may be written in many players’ team contracts that they receive a bonus upon receiving the award, but that is subject to the terms of the team agreement and not the NBA organization.
The most accurate prize for the Defensive Player of the Year is that their name is written in history as one of the greatest ever to play.
Does Fan Vote Determine the NBA Defensive Player of the Year?
No, fans of the NBA do not have a say in who will be awarded Defensive Player of the Year. Unlike All-Star voting, the Defensive Player of the Year is voted upon by a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters across the United States and Canada.
The voting process for the NBA Defensive Player of the Year is as follows: Media members are allowed to award a player of their choice a “vote” ranked from first place, worth ten points, to third place, worth one point. The player with the highest points total wins the award.
When Will the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award Winner Be Announced?
The NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award is usually announced after the conclusion of the NBA regular season and the Play-In Tournament. The team of the winning player tends to reveal the news publicly during the NBA Playoffs.
Before its cancellation, the prize would have been announced at the NBA Awards ceremony. Last year, the award news was reported on a broadcast of Inside the NBA.
Who Won the First NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award?
The first-ever winner of the Defensive Player of the Year award was shooting guard Sidney Moncrief of the Milwaukee Bucks. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame member was an equal force on the offensive and defensive end of the court.
In his Defensive Player of the Year winning season, his second All-Star season, Moncrief averaged 22.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.5 steals, and just 2.4 fouls in 35.7 minutes per game.
Impressively, his first award-winning season was just a precursor to winning Defensive Player of the Year in consecutive years. He is genuinely one of the NBA's greatest players!
Which Position Wins the Most Defensive Player of the Year Awards?
Centers have won the most Defensive Player of the Year Awards with 26. Small Forwards and Shooting Guards have won five, Power Forwards have won four, and Point Guards have won two.
Who Is the Youngest Ever NBA Defensive Player of the Year?
At 23 years old, Jaren Jackson Jr. (2023), Kawhi Leonard (2015), Dwight Howard (2009), and Alvin Robertson (1986) are tied as the youngest winners of the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award.
Who Is the Oldest Ever NBA Defensive Player of the Year?
At 34 years old in 2001, Dikembe Mutombo was the oldest-ever Defensive Player of the Year Award winner. Splitting the season between the Atlanta Hawks and Philadelphia 76ers did not deter Mutombo's defensive efforts.
Which NBA Franchises Have Won the Most NBA Defensive Player of the Year Awards?
With six wins, four coming from Ben Wallace alone, the Detroit Pistons have earned the most Defensive Players of the Year. The other Pistons player to win Defensive Player of the Year was fellow Hall of Famer Dennis Rodman.
Which NBA Franchises Have Never Won a Defensive Player of the Year Award?
Twelve different NBA franchises have failed to produce an NBA Defensive Player of the Year winner. Those teams are: Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks, LA Clippers, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, Toronto Raptors, and Washington Wizards.
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Christian Jope is a writer, social media strategist, and data analyst. A Queen’s University Alumni, Christian is an author and social media strategist with Raptors Cage, while also working closely with MLSE and Canada Basketball through community-driven events.
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