NBA Defensive Player of the Year Odds 2025: Wembanyama Running Away With Award

Rudy Gobert joined elite company last season alongside 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 eighth in the race a month into the current campaign at our best NBA betting sites.

• A so-so start has pushed Victor Wembanyama to be priced with plus odds after opening up the campaign at -180, but he's moved back to a similar price with a dominant defensive stretch
• Meanwhile, Chet Holmgren has fallen from second place to off the board entirely due to his untimely injury
• Big men are dominating the top of the board, with Evan Mobley, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Draymond Green sitting right behind Wembanyama

Here we take a look at the latest NBA Most Improved Player odds from our best sports betting sites with the season now well underway.

NBA Defensive Player of the Year odds 2025

Live NBA Defensive Player of the Year odds from our best sports betting apps.

• Dyson Daniels is the rare perimeter defensive anchor with the Hawks, and he's averaging a league-leading 3.1 steals and adding a block per game to his tally
• Giannis Antetokounmpo is a former winner of this award, but he's been lacking significantly in counting defensive stats, averaging a career-low in steals per game
• Jackson is Wembanyama's main competitor for the award, even though his modest block tally is far below his Defensive Player of the Year award-winning season mark of 3.0 per game

NBA Defensive Player of the Year favorites

Victor Wembanyama (-185)

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 get 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. There would have been serious debate over whether Gobert deserved the award over him if Wembanyama posted those numbers all year.

Given how he finished the season, it wasn't a surprise to see Wembanyama begin the campaign 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 two-plus blocks and one-plus steal per game last season.

Wembanyama started the campaign slow, with only one block in his first game of the season. However, he's posted at least three blocks in all but two games since, including ridiculous tallies of nine and seven. He's even been effective with steals too, averaging 1.3 per game. The Frenchman leads the NBA in blocks and combined blocks and steals too.

Even still, while the Spurs have been average defensively, it seems like opponents have simply learned to avoid shooting around the French sensation at all costs, making his defensive tally even more impressive.

However, there's very little value on Wembanyama's betting odds with his pure dominance. Though if he stays healthy throughout the year, this wager does seem perhaps even more likely than the 64.28% implied probability would suggest.

Best odds:  | Implied probability: 64.28%

My NBA Defensive Player of the Year candidate to watch

Rudy Gobert (+5000)

At some point, voters will get tired of choosing the Minnesota Timberwolves center as Defensive Player of the Year. But there's a reason he's won the award four times in the last seven seasons. He's an excellent rim protector for a good 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 1.6 this year. 

However, the sample size is still small, but Gobert is averaging 33.9 minutes per game, third on the Timberwolves. He's 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 voting 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, too.

So sitting with the seventh-best odds to win the trophy just a month into the season doesn't make much sense. With such value on a prime candidate, it may be better to wager on Gobert than one of the favorites.

Best odds:  | Implied probability: 1.96%

NBA Defensive Player of the Year odds over time

Latest odds via .

Past NBA Defensive Player of the Year winners

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 -180 , which imply a 64.28% 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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