NBA Defensive Player of the Year Odds 2025: Holmgren Closes Gap on Wembanyama
Last season, Rudy Gobert joined elite company - Ben Wallace and Dikembe Mutombo - as just the third player in NBA history to win four Defensive Player of the Year awards. However, he sits just tied for seventh in the race a week into the season according to our best NBA betting sites.
- A so-so start has pushed Victor Wembanyama (+135) to be priced with plus-odds after opening up the campaign at -180. He's taken a dip across the board, including in the NBA MVP odds
- Meanwhile, Chet Holmgren (+350) has made a major surge while leading the NBA in blocks at four per game
- Big men are dominating the top of the board, with Anthony Davis (+900), Bam Adebayo (+1400), and Evan Mobley (+1600) sitting right behind Wembanyama and Holmgren
Here, we take a look at the latest NBA Most Improved Player odds from our best sports betting sites with the season now firmly underway.
NBA Defensive Player of the Year odds 2025
Live NBA Defensive Player of the Year odds from our best sports betting apps.
- Holmgren has been dominant defensively, putting up at least two blocks in every game thus far, adding at least a steal in each contest for a Thunder team leading the NBA in points per game allowed
- Anunoby is the rare perimeter defensive anchor with the Knicks lacking a true rim protector. Yet, the Knicks currently sit dead last league wide in defensive rating
- Antetokounmpo is a former winner of this award, but has been lacking significantly in counting defensive stats, tallying a total of three steals and blocks across his first four games
NBA Defensive Player of the Year favorites
Victor Wembanyama (+135)
It seemed like Wembanyama ran out of time last year. He spent the back half of the season closing the gap with Gobert, who at one point looked like he'd have no competition for the award.
But in Wemby's last 29 games of the season, he averaged 4.2 blocks and 1.4 steals per game while hauling in 11.4 rebounds. Had he posted those numbers all year, there's serious debate over whether Gobert wins the award over him.
Given how he finished the season, it wasn't a surprise to see Wembanyama begin the season as such a heavy favorite. He led the NBA in blocks with 3.6 per game, 1.2 more than the next closest, and was one of just two players to average 2-plus blocks and 1-plus steal per game last season.
However, the early results haven't gone quite as many hoped. Wembanyama hasn't picked up a steal yet, and sits at 2.7 blocks per game, an elite number for many players, but underwhelming for someone with Wemby's expectations.
While the Spurs have been average defensively, it seems like opponents have simply learned to avoid shooting around the French sensation at all costs, limiting his ability to pick up coveted blocks.
That said, there's an argument to be made that there's value on Wembanyama now that his odds have plummeted below even. If his recent four-block game against the Houston Rockets is any indication, Wembanyama still stands as the league's most menacing shot blocker, and it's just a matter of time until he starts putting up the insane defensive numbers he finished off his rookie season with.
Best odds: +140 via DraftKings | Implied probability: 41.67%
My NBA Defensive Player of the Year candidate to watch
Rudy Gobert (+3000)
At some point, voters will get tired of choosing Minnesota Timberwolves center as Defensive Player of the Year, but at the end of the day, there's a reason he's won the award four times in the last seven years. He's an excellent rim protector for an excellent defensive team.
No longer sharing the floor with fellow big man Karl-Anthony Towns, the paint is all Gobert's this season, but his blocks tally has dipped slightly from 2.1 per game last year to 1.7 this year.
However, the sample size is exceptionally small, and what's perhaps most notable, is that Gobert's averaging 36.3 minutes per game, second on the Timberwolves. Simply put, Gobert is an even more integral part of Minnesota's lineup with Towns gone, and his blocks will soon come with the increase in minutes.
The argument here is more about the value than anything, though. Outside of a shaky first season in Minnesota, Gobert has finished in the top-three of the Defensive Player of the Year award votes in each of the other seven campaigns he's suited up for since 2015-16. It's firmly understood that Gobert will be on the very short list of candidates this year, as well.
Because of this, sitting with the seventh-best odds to win the trophy just a couple games into this season doesn't make much sense. With such value on a prime candidate, it may make more sense to wager on Gobert than one of the favorites.
Best odds: +3000 via BetMGM | Implied probability: 3.23%
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NBA Defensive Player of the Year odds over time
Latest odds via BetMGM.
| Player | Opening odds (Aug. 4, 2024) | Oct. 29 |
|---|---|---|
| Victor Wembanyama | -180 | +135 |
| Rudy Gobert | +1100 | +3000 |
| Bam Adebayo | +1200 | +1400 |
| Chet Holmgren | +1600 | +350 |
| Evan Mobley | +1600 | +1600 |
| Anthony Davis | +1800 | +900 |
| Jaren Jackson Jr. | +1800 | +3000 |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | +2000 | +5000 |
| OG Anunoby | +3000 | +3000 |
| Alex Caruso | +3000 | +3000 |
| Joel Embiid | +4000 | +10000 |
| Jrue Holiday | +5000 | +12500 |
| Mikal Bridges | +6000 | +15000 |
| Herbert Jones | +7000 | +8000 |
| Jalen Suggs | +7500 | +10000 |
| Lu Dort | +8000 | +10000 |
| Jaden McDaniels | +8000 | +12500 |
| Jarrett Allen | +8000 | +12500 |
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | +10000 | +8000 |
| Derrick White | +10000 | +10000 |
Past NBA Defensive Player of the Year winners
| Year | Name | Team | Preseason odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | Rudy Gobert | Minnesota Timberwolves | +2000 |
| 2022-23 | Jaren Jackson Jr. | Memphis Grizzlies | +2000 |
| 2021-22 | Marcus Smart | Boston Celtics | +4000 |
| 2020-21 | Rudy Gobert | Utah Jazz | +300 |
| 2019-20 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | Milwaukee Bucks | +400 |
| 2018-19 | Rudy Gobert | Utah Jazz | +163 |
| 2017-18 | Rudy Gobert | Utah Jazz | +325 |
| 2016-17 | Draymond Green | Golden State Warriors | +550 |
| 2015-16 | Kawhi Leonard | San Antonio Spurs | +550 |
How to bet on NBA Defensive Player of the Year
Betting on NBA Defensive Player of the Year odds is straightforward. First, pick a reputable sportsbook offering NBA Defensive Player of the Year futures. Check the odds for various players; for instance, if Player A has +300 odds and Player B has +700, Player A is favored to win.
Place your bet by deciding how much to wager. If you bet $100 on Player A at +300 and they win, you’ll get $400 back ($100 stake + $300 profit). Keep an eye on player performances throughout the season to gauge your bet’s potential.
Now, why do odds move in future markets? It’s all about performance and perception. If a player performs exceptionally well or poorly, their odds will shift. Injuries to the player or their competitors can also significantly impact their Defensive Player of the Year chances.
The success of the player’s team can improve their odds as well. Public betting trends play a role; if many people are betting on one player, sportsbooks might adjust the odds to balance their risk. Expert analysis and predictions can also influence how people bet, affecting the odds. Understanding these factors helps you make informed bets and potentially take advantage of favorable odds movements.
How to read NBA MVP odds
Reading NBA Defensive Player of the Year odds involves understanding the implied probability and potential payouts associated with each player's odds of winning the Defensive Player of the Year award. NBA Defensive Player of the Year odds are typically presented in American odds.
These use plus and minus symbols to indicate underdogs and favorites, respectively. For instance, if a player's odds are +500, a $100 bet would result in a $500 profit if the player wins, while odds of -200 would mean that a $200 bet is required to win $100 in profit.
When reading NBA Defensive Player of the Year odds, lower odds indicate that a player has a higher probability of winning the award, while higher odds suggest that a player is considered less likely to win. Bettors should consider factors such as a player's performance, team success, and narrative appeal when evaluating Defensive Player of the Year odds.
It's also important to compare odds across different sportsbooks to identify the best value bets. Additionally, bettors should keep in mind that Defensive Player of the Year odds can fluctuate throughout the season based on player performance, injuries, and other factors, so staying informed and monitoring odds changes can be crucial for making informed betting decisions.
NBA Defensive Player of the Year FAQs
Who is the NBA Defensive Player of the Year favorite?
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama is the favorite to win NBA DPOY. His odds are as short as +135 , which imply a 42.55% probability that he'll win the award.
Who won NBA Defensive Player of the Year last year?
Rudy Gobert won his fourth NBA Defensive Player of the Year award in 2023-24 and his first with the Minnesota Timberwolves, who ranked first in the NBA in defensive rating with the league's fewest points allowed per game.
When will NBA Defensive Player of the Year be decided?
With the 2023-24 award announced on Tuesday, May 7, during the NBA playoffs, we can expect next year's award to be decided at a similar time.
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