NBA Defensive Player of the Year Betting Odds 2026
A lot of critics of the NBA would proclaim that the league isn’t the same as it used to be, that defense is mostly…
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However, the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award makes sure to highlight the few NBA stars out there who still believe in the old adage that “defense wins championships.”
In recent history, Rudy Gobert has won this award in four of the last seven seasons.
However, there is some new blood in the NBA that offers unthinkable matchup nightmares and can completely change an offensive game plan on their own.
In this article, we will detail all you need to know about betting on who ultimately becomes the NBA Defensive Player of the Year and how you can celebrate every rebound, block, and steal along the way.
Note: Odds were correct at the time of writing.
How is the Winner Decided?
The NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award is decided by a panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters from the United States and Canada.
Each voter selects their top three choices for the award, ranking them in order from first to third.
First-place votes for the award are worth 5 points, while second-place votes are worth 3 points, and third-place votes are worth 1 point.
The player who accumulates the most total points from the 100 ballots wins the award, meaning that a player could, in theory, still win the award even if they do not have the most first-place votes.
Unlike other awards like the NBA MVP Award or the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award, there is no real specific criteria for voting for NBA Defensive Player of the Year.
However, voters typically consider factors like rebounding, rim protection, on-ball defense, and overall presence on the floor.
NBA Defensive Player of the Year Betting Odds
In recent seasons, the race to become NBA Defensive Player of the Year has been tight. The award is typically one of the more popular futures bets that NBA bettors tend to make before the season begins.
Here’s a look at how the race to become NBA Defensive Player of the Year shakes just days before the midseason All-Star break.
Victor Wembanyama (-195) at DraftKings – The Favorite
If a report from Shams Charania dropped this week saying that Victor Wembanyama is actually half-alien and from another galaxy altogether, I’m not sure many basketball fans would be overly surprised.
The third-year talent out of France narrowly missed out on winning DPOTY in his rookie season and also had a stellar 2024-25 season.
Wemby is now the overwhelming favorite to win the award this season. Wemby is averaging 11 rebounds per game this season and 2.7 blocks per game.
It’s going to take something drastic to make this race a bit more interesting and not the foregone conclusion it appears to be.
The Longshots
If you are looking for other possibilities, a few other players stand out. Rudy Gobert once again remains a possibility, along with some other names. Here are a few players to watch in the Dfensive Player of the Year race.
| Player | Team | Betting Odds |
| Chet Holmgren | Oklahoma City Thunder | +200 |
| Rudy Gobert | Minnesota Timberwolves | +1500 |
| Scottie Barnes | Toronto Raptors | +3000 |
| Ausar Thompson | New York Knicks | +5000 |
Recent NBA Defensive Player of the Year Winners
| Year | Player | Team |
| 2024-25 | Evan Mobley | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 2023-24 | Rudy Gobert | Minnesota Timberwolves |
| 2022-23 | Jaren Jackson Jr. | Memphis Grizzlies |
| 2021-22 | Marcus Smart | Boston Celtics |
| 2020-21 | Rudy Gobert | Utah Jazz |
| 2019-20 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 2018-19 | Rudy Gobert | Utah Jazz |
| 2017-18 | Rudy Gobert | Utah Jazz |
| 2016-17 | Draymond Green | Golden State Warriors |
| 2015-16 | Kawhi Leonard | San Antonio Spurs |
| 2014-15 | Kawhi Leonard | San Antonio Spurs |
How To Bet on the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award
To bet on who wins the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award, follow this step-by-step:
1. Log into your account at the sportsbook of your choosing.
2. Select ‘NBA Odds’ from the menu of sports available.
3. Go to the ‘Player Futures’ submenu.
4. Click on ‘Defensive Player of the Year.’
5. Submit your bet in the bet-slip window.
