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.
Week 4 of the NBA regular season schedule is through, and the odds table for Defensive Player of the Year has seen a contender come into play out of nowhere. While the usual faces sit atop the odds table, a shakeup in the awards race has turned head. 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!
For the best NBA Futures bets, WSN has you covered with betting picks and tips every day throughout the 2024-25 NBA season and playoffs! New sports bettors can use the best NBA bonuses and promos before their favorite team tips off!
Despite dealing with an injury over the past week, Victor Wembanyama maintains his place atop the odds table. Similarly, Evan Mobley remains the top contender as his Cavaliers have maintained their stellar start. Rounding out the top contenders are Draymond Green and Jaren Jackson Jr. However, the week's surprise is Hawks guard Dyson Daniels, whose performances have sent him flying up the odds table into a place among the top contenders.
The San Antonio Spurs have made impressive growth this season, particularly given their inexperienced roster. Central to their defensive development has been Victor Wembanyama, a shot-blocking ace who has taken on a more significant defensive burden to his team’s benefit. Combining individual production and team success has Wembanyama rightly atop the DPOY ladder.
Caesars Sportsbook Promo for the 2024 NBA Defensive Player of the Year
For an exciting sports betting experience, sign up at Caesars Sportsbook with our promo code WSN1000 and snag their welcome offer. With plenty of betting markets to explore, including NBA Futures, now’s the perfect time to get in on the action. Sign up at Caesars Sportsbook and claim this deal before the 2025 NBA Defensive Player of the Year is announced!
New users at Caesars Sportsbook can cover their opening bet worth up to $1,000 using our exclusive promo code WSN1000. If your first bet loses, you’ll receive bet credit equal to the amount wagered up to $1,000. Make a $10 deposit, then initial wager from $10 to $1,000. Bonus bets are valid for 14 days after receipt.
At WSN, we pride ourselves on being the most trustworthy source for online sportsbook and casino reviews. Our in-house team of reviewers spend a minimum of six hours thoroughly evaluating each website before rating it using our unique BetEdge scoring system. This methodology was designed to ensure all reviews meet our high set of standards and are consistent across the board. Read more.
Affiliate Disclaimer
When you sign-up to a sportsbook or casino through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. This is how WSN makes money in order to continue providing valuable and trustworthy content for sports bettors and casino players. The compensation we receive does not impact our reviews or recommendations. The information on WSN will always remain unbiased, objective, and independent.
21+
WSN is committed to supporting the fight against underage gambling. While the legal minimum online gambling age varies by state, we take a strict
21+ stance and do not promote any underage gambling activities.
Who Is the Favorite to Win NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2025?
(C) Victor Wembanyama - San Antonio Spurs (-190) at Caesars
Season
Team
Age
Games
MPG
PPG
RPG
SPG
BPG
2024-25
SAS
21
13
31.5
22.7
10.5
1.3
3.7
Victor Wembanyama is managing an injury going into Week 5 of the NBA’s regular season schedule, but that didn’t stop him from putting up some massive performances in Week 4. He put up 37.3 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game in three games. While many point to his mid-week 50-point performance as the highlight of the week, it’s important to note he collected eight blocks, three steals, and 34 rebounds in three games. Finding consistent victories has been a goal for the Spurs this season, and Wembanyama’s regular defensive presence has been central to that success.
Who Are the Contenders for 2025 NBA Defensive Player of the Year?
Evan Mobley - Cleveland Cavaliers (+750) at Caesars
Season
Team
Age
Games
MPG
PPG
RPG
SPG
BPG
2024-25
CLE
22
14
30.6
18.1
8.8
0.9
1.5
Evan Mobley has been the pillar of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ excellent defense this season. He only played in two games last week but averaged 14.5 points and 9.0 rebounds. His best performance came in a six-point win over the Bulls when he scored 15 points and 11 rebounds. While Mobley’s raw production is less than that of his competitors, his presence and switchability have been central to the success of their defensive game plan.
Draymond Green - Golden State Warriors (+1000) at Caesars
Season
Team
Age
Games
MPG
PPG
RPG
SPG
BPG
2024-25
GSW
34
13
28.2
9.1
5.8
5.5
1.0
The 2017 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, Draymond Green, has had a resurgence along with his Golden State Warriors. His Warriors sit atop the Western Conference after a week where he averaged 12.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 2.0 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game. His all-around defensive play has been positive, helping the Warriors hold down the high-scoring Mavericks and Grizzlies last week. Another player who anchors a defense more than producing head-turning defensive numbers, Green’s impact is seen through his team’s success.
The surprise of the early regular season, Australian guard Dyson Daniels has shown off his growth by becoming one of the league’s peskiest defenders. Leading the NBA in steals per game, Daniels spent last week averaging 21.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 4.7 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game as his Hawks went 2-1 on the year. At first, many thought his performances to be unsustainable. But after four weeks of the season, Daniels might be one of the league’s best defenders.
Who Is the Dark Horse to Win 2025 Defensive Player of the Year?
Jaren Jackson Jr. - Memphis Grizzlies (+1200) at Caesars
Season
Team
Age
Games
MPG
PPG
RPG
SPG
BPG
2024-25
MEM
25
12
28.8
23.1
5.7
1.4
1.4
Jaren Jackson Jr. has taken more responsibility on the offensive side of the ball this season, but that hasn’t stopped him from being productive on the defensive side. Last week, Jackson Jr. averaged 30.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 1.5 blocks as the Grizzlies went 0-2. Never the greatest rebounder, Jackson Jr.’s defensive contributions come from his rim protection, so keep an eye on his shot-blocking trends as the season wears on.
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.
Responsible Gambling
If you or someone you know needs support or wants to speak with a professional about responsible gambling, seek out the correct resources. Call or text 1-800-GAMBLER to get help, or visit 1800gambler.net for more information. WSN is an advocate for safe gambling practices. Visit our Responsible Gambling Center for more details.
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.
Get special offers and tips straight to your inbox
Sign up to our newsletter to get WSN's latest hands-on reviews, expert advice, and exclusive offers delivered straight to your inbox.
We've been featured on:
We only list licensed sportsbooks
We support responsible gambling. Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly. If you need help, call
1-800-Gambler.
WSN.com is managed by Gentoo Media. Unless declared otherwise, all of the visible content on this site, such
as texts and images, including the brand name and logo, belongs to Innovation Labs Limited (a Gentoo Media
company) - Company Registration Number C44130, VAT ID: MT18874732, @GIG Beach Triq id-Dragunara, St.
Julians, STJ3148, Malta.
Advertising Disclosure: WSN.com contains links to partner websites. When a visitor to our website clicks on
one of these links and makes a purchase at a partner site, World Sports Network is paid a commission.
/fit-in/222x222/caesars-sportsbook-b.jpeg)
/fit-in/222x222/frame-1-1.png)
/filters:no_upscale()/fit-in/1200x585/1729585189/nba-defensive-player-of-the-year-predictions-odds.jpg "NBA Defensive Player of the Year Predictions Odds")
/1666344578/christian-jope.png "Christian jope")
/dmca.png "Dmca"){kind=small}
/1670944202/21.png "21"){kind=small}
/1670944628/2022-igb-best-casino-affiliate-gig-media-e1651053747946.png "2022 igb best casino affiliate gig media e1651053747946"){kind=small}
/1670944701/gig-media-power-affiliates-rank-123x40-1.png "Gig media power affiliates rank 123x40 1"){kind=icon}
/1670944773/800-gambler-black-144x40.jpg "800 gambler black 144x40"){kind=small}
/1718715753/gpwa.webp "Gpwa"){kind=small}
