NBA Defensive Player of the Year 2026-27

NBA Defensive Player of the Year Odds Movement

Victor Wembanyama remains the overwhelming DPOY favorite, with his odds shortening from -360 in the preseason to -380. However, the competition behind him has changed greatly.

Scottie Barnes has made the biggest move among the leading contenders, jumping from +5000 to +1500. Ausar Thompson has also climbed from +2500 to +1500. Both players are now tied for the second-shortest odds, while Rudy Gobert remains fourth at +3000, the same price as his opening line.

Several other contenders have seen their odds shorten significantly. OG Anunoby has shortened from +9000 to +5000, Dyson Daniels from +10000 to +5500, and Walker Kessler from +12000 to +6500. Bam Adebayo has moved from +6000 to +5000, while Amen Thompson has improved from +7500 to +6000.

Other candidates have lost ground. Evan Mobley has slipped from +4000 to +5000, while Giannis Antetokounmpo has dropped from +7500 to +10000. Jaren Jackson Jr. has experienced relatively little movement, going from +8000 to +7500.

Chet Holmgren represents the most notable change among the original favorites. He entered the preseason with the second-shortest odds at +1200 but is now off the board due to his injury.

NBA Defensive Player of the Year Favorites and Contenders

The leading DPOY candidates have established different defensive strengths. Wembanyama dominates through rim protection, while Thompson, Barnes and Daniels excel at disrupting opponents on the perimeter. Gobert and Mobley provide more traditional interior defense, with Adebayo offering greater positional versatility.

Victor Wembanyama — San Antonio Spurs

Victor Wembanyama (-380) leads the NBA with 4.0 blocks per game, along with 10.7 rebounds and 1.3 steals. His 28 blocks account for 57% of San Antonio’s total, helping the Spurs rank fourth in defensive rating. The reigning DPOY is pursuing his second consecutive award after becoming the first unanimous winner in league history. His combination of defensive impact and offensive production also puts him in the NBA MVP conversation.

Ausar Thompson — Detroit Pistons

Ausar Thompson (+1500) has helped Detroit establish the NBA’s top-ranked defense, allowing just 99.6 points per 100 possessions. He’s averaging 7.2 rebounds and 1.0 steals, while opponents have shot just 34.0% on 53 attempts with Thompson recorded as the closest defender. He finished third in DPOY voting last season and earned All-Defensive First Team honors.

Scottie Barnes — Toronto Raptors

Scottie Barnes (+1500) is averaging 7.9 rebounds, 2.1 steals and 0.7 blocks while helping Toronto rank sixth in defensive rating. His versatility is reflected in 28 deflections and 25 contested shots. Barnes also earned All-Defensive Second Team honors last season.

Rudy Gobert — Minnesota Timberwolves

Rudy Gobert (+3000) is averaging 12.0 rebounds per game while anchoring Minnesota’s third-ranked defense, which allows 103.0 points per 100 possessions. The four-time DPOY remains one of the league’s most accomplished rim protectors, using his size and positioning to contest shots and control the defensive glass.

Bam Adebayo — Miami Heat

Bam Adebayo (+5000) is averaging 8.0 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 0.7 blocks. His steal production stands out among NBA centers, while his mobility allows him to defend guards, forwards and opposing big men. Adebayo earned All-Defensive Second Team honors last season.

Evan Mobley — Cleveland Cavaliers

Evan Mobley (+5000) is averaging 8.0 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game. The former DPOY combines rim protection with the mobility to defend multiple positions. During his award-winning season, opponents shot 3.2 percentage points worse than expected on attempts he defended.

OG Anunoby — New York Knicks

OG Anunoby (+5000) is averaging 5.6 rebounds, 0.9 steals and 0.6 blocks while helping New York rank fifth in defensive rating. His ability to guard multiple positions makes him an important part of the Knicks’ perimeter defense. Anunoby also earned All-Defensive Second Team recognition last season.

Dyson Daniels — Atlanta Hawks

Dyson Daniels (+5500) leads the NBA with 3.0 steals per game and accounts for approximately 31% of Atlanta’s team total. The former All-Defensive First Team selection is one of the league’s most productive perimeter defenders.

Walker Kessler — Los Angeles Lakers

Walker Kessler (+6500) is averaging 10.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game, placing him among the NBA’s leading shot blockers. His interior presence provides Los Angeles with consistent rim protection, while his rebounding helps limit opponents’ second-chance opportunities.

Factors Influencing NBA Defensive Player of the Year Odds

NBA Defensive Player of the Year odds are influenced by individual defensive statistics, team performance, injuries and award eligibility. A media panel selects the winner based on regular-season performance, evaluating several aspects of defensive impact rather than relying on one statistic.

Rim Protection, Blocks and Opponent Shooting

Blocks per game, block percentage, contested shots and opponent shooting efficiency are important measures of interior defense. Blocks measure successful shot rejections, while block percentage accounts for the share of opponents’ two-point attempts a defender blocks while on the court.

Opponent field-goal percentage at the rim and defensive field-goal percentage differential help evaluate how effectively a player limits scoring opportunities.

These metrics are especially valuable because effective rim protection involves more than blocking shots. Forcing missed attempts, discouraging drives and limiting high-percentage shots can contribute significantly to a player’s DPOY case.

Perimeter Defense, Steals and Versatility

Steals, deflections, contested shots and opponent shooting percentages are key statistical measures of perimeter defense. Steals measure turnovers directly generated by a defender, while deflections capture disrupted passes and ball-handling actions that may not result in a turnover.

Opponent shooting percentages and field-goal percentage differential help evaluate how effectively defenders contest shots.

Defensive versatility is another important factor. Players who successfully guard multiple positions, switch defensive assignments and defend both perimeter and interior scoring threats can strengthen their DPOY candidacy.

Team Defensive Rating and Individual Impact

Defensive rating measures points allowed per 100 possessions, accounting for differences in team pace. A lower rating indicates greater defensive efficiency, and players contributing to highly ranked defenses can benefit in DPOY consideration. Strong team defense can also support a division title challenge, although division futures are settled by regular-season standings rather than award voting.

However, team defensive rating does not isolate an individual player’s impact. On/off defensive rating compares team performance when a player is on the court versus off it, providing additional insight into his contributions.

Opponent shooting efficiency, defensive rebounding, forced turnovers and lineup-adjusted defensive metrics also help distinguish individual performance from overall team success.

Injuries, Playing Time and Award Eligibility

The NBA generally requires players to participate in at least 65 qualifying games to remain eligible for Defensive Player of the Year. A qualifying appearance ordinarily requires at least 20 minutes, although up to two games with 15 to fewer than 20 minutes can count.

The collective bargaining agreement includes limited exceptions for certain injuries and eligibility appeals. NBA Cup championship appearances may also count toward award eligibility, despite being excluded from regular-season statistical totals.

Injuries and missed games can significantly affect DPOY futures odds by reducing a player’s statistical production, defensive impact and ability to satisfy eligibility requirements. Sustained regular-season performance is essential, as playoff performances do not count toward the award. If you are betting through Lucky Rebel, check its settlement terms before backing a player whose eligibility is uncertain.

Key Late-Season Matchups That Could Shape the NBA DPOY Race

Several March and April games feature leading DPOY contenders competing against one another. These late-season matchups could affect DPOY futures odds and voter perceptions, although the award ultimately reflects each candidate’s performance throughout the regular season.

Wembanyama vs. Ausar Thompson — March 27

San Antonio visits Detroit in a matchup featuring the DPOY favorite and one of his closest challengers. Wembanyama’s rim protection and Thompson’s perimeter defense offer contrasting strengths. A strong defensive performance could bolster either player’s candidacy, especially if both teams remain among the league’s defensive leaders.

Scottie Barnes vs. Ausar Thompson — March 31

Toronto visits Detroit in a late-season meeting between two leading DPOY contenders. Opponent shooting percentages, forced turnovers and overall defensive efficiency will provide measurable comparisons of their impact.

Wembanyama vs. Walker Kessler — April 4

San Antonio visits the Lakers in a matchup featuring two of the NBA’s leading shot blockers. Both centers rely heavily on rim protection and defensive rebounding. Their performances provide an opportunity to compare interior defensive impact as the regular season enters its final week.

Wembanyama vs. Evan Mobley — April 7

Cleveland visits San Antonio in a matchup featuring the league’s two most recent DPOY winners. Both players combine shot blocking with defensive versatility, making this an important late-season comparison of individual defensive production and team impact.

Previous NBA Defensive Player of the Year Winners and Historical Trends

A look at previous NBA Defensive Player of the Year winners reveals notable trends in player positions, defensive performance, team success and futures markets.

Recent NBA Defensive Player of the Year Winners

Frontcourt Players Dominate DPOY Award

Frontcourt players have overwhelmingly dominated the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award. These defenders have won nine of the last 10 awards (90%) and 24 of the last 25 (96%), establishing a clear historical preference for bigger defenders.

Centers have had the most success in NBA Defensive Player of the Year voting, winning 16 of the last 25 awards (64%) and five of the last 10. Forwards accounted for eight victories over the 25-year span and four over the past decade. Marcus Smart is the only backcourt player to win DPOY in the last 25 seasons, earning the award with the Boston Celtics in 2021–22.

The trend reflects the importance of rim protection, shot blocking, defensive rebounding and overall defensive impact. Voters have consistently favored players who anchor their team’s defense, particularly centers and versatile forwards capable of protecting the paint while defending multiple positions.

DPOY Winners Often Anchor Top-Ranked Defenses

Team defensive performance has been a consistent factor in NBA Defensive Player of the Year voting. Over the last 10 seasons, all 10 winners played for teams ranked in the top 10 in defensive rating, while nine played for top-five defenses.

Four winners played for the NBA’s top-ranked defense, while three came from teams ranked in the top three. The only winner whose team finished outside the top five was Evan Mobley, whose Cleveland Cavaliers ranked eighth in 2024–25.

These results show a strong historical connection between team defensive efficiency and individual recognition, with 90% of recent DPOY winners coming from top-five defenses.

DPOY Winners Who Led the NBA in Blocks

Over the last 25 seasons, only six DPOY winners (24%) led the NBA in blocks per game. That trend has continued over the past decade, with just two of the last 10 winners (20%) leading the league in blocked shots. Although shot blocking remains an important defensive statistic, the historical results show that voters place greater value on overall defensive impact than simply leading the league in blocks.

DPOY Winners Who Led the NBA in Rebounds

Rebounding titles have been even less common among DPOY winners. Only four of the last 25 winners (16%) led the NBA in rebounds per game, while none of the last 10 winners accomplished that feat.

Defensive rebounding helps teams finish possessions and limit second-chance opportunities, but the historical numbers suggest that leading the league in total rebounds per game carries relatively little weight in determining the DPOY winner.

Multiple NBA Defensive Player of the Year Winners

Several players have won multiple NBA Defensive Player of the Year awards, with Rudy Gobert, Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace sharing the all-time record of four victories.

Multiple DPOY Winners

Over the last 10 seasons, Rudy Gobert is the only player to win multiple DPOY awards, collecting four between 2017–18 and 2023–24.

Expanding the comparison to 25 seasons, four players have won multiple awards: Gobert (4), Ben Wallace (4), Dwight Howard (3) and Kawhi Leonard (2). Together, they accounted for 13 of the 25 awards (52%).

Throughout NBA history, 10 players have won DPOY multiple times. Three have won four awards, one has won three, and six have won twice.

Back-to-Back DPOY Winners

Gobert is the only player to win consecutive DPOY awards during the last 10 seasons, accomplishing the feat in 2017–18 and 2018–19. Over the last 25 seasons, four players have won consecutive awards: Wallace, Howard, Leonard and Gobert. Wallace accomplished the feat twice, winning in 2001–02 and 2002–03 before repeating in 2004–05 and 2005–06.

Since the award began in 1982–83, nine different players have won consecutive DPOY awards, establishing 10 separate winning streaks.

Three Consecutive DPOY Awards

Dwight Howard remains the only player in NBA history to win three consecutive Defensive Player of the Year awards, accomplishing the feat with Orlando from 2008–09 through 2010–11. His achievement remains unmatched despite three other players reaching four career DPOY victories. No player has completed a three-peat during the last 10 seasons.

Are Preseason DPOY Markets a Good Indicator?

At least five of the last 10 NBA Defensive Player of the Year winners (50%) entered the season outside the top two preseason favorites. This trend shows that preseason odds are far from a reliable predictor of the eventual winner, as individual defensive production and team performance can significantly reshape the market during a season.