Machibet LiveTop NBA Defensive Player of the Year Picks, Predictions for 2022-23: Ben Simmons a Dark Horse?

The Defensive Player of the Year award is a high honor that’s been bestowed on the NBA’s best defender since the 1982-83 season. Past winners include Michael Jordan and Giannis Antetokounmpo, who captured the DPOY in the same season they won MVP.

The reigning DPOY, Marcus Smart, is one of only two point guards to have ever won an award that is most typically handed out to forwards and centers. It should be no surprise that the top options to win in 2022-23 are big men.

Here are our top picks to win the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award.

Top 2022-23 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Picks to Make: Favorites

Rudy Gobert (+425) via DraftKings

Gobert is a three-time winner of the award, so it’s no surprise he’s the favorite to win again in 2022-23. Last year, the big man averaged a career-high 14.7 rebounds, and he's swatted at least two shots per contest for eight straight seasons.

Utah fizzled out in the playoffs yet again, prompting a complete rebuild and Gobert’s trade to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Will the change of scenery give the French center a new burst of energy and motivation?

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Giannis Antetokounmpo (+1000) via DraftKings

The 2019-20 DPOY is back on the radar with the third-shortest odds to win the award again. As a perennial MVP candidate and scoring leader, it’s easy to forget just how versatile the Greek Freak is on defense. Still in his prime and leading a title contender, Giannis should be a finalist for this award.

Top 2022-23 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Picks to Make: Value Bets

Mikal Bridges (+1600) via FanDuel

Bridges finished with 202 points in last year’s Defensive Player of the Year voting, just 55 points behind Marcus Smart. The runner-up is often tasked with guarding opposing teams’ best players, and made a name for himself as a relentless and sound defender. Bridges has never missed a game in his four NBA seasons, and his team is likely to be a championship contender yet again. There’s a ton of value in taking him at +1500 odds.

Evan Mobley (+2000) via FanDuel

Cleveland made the move from bottom-feeder to near playoff team last season, and the Rookie of the Year runner-up played a huge part in his team’s success.

Mobley ranked 11th in defensive rating just behind Marcus Smart, his team ranked seventh in defensive rating, and the Cavs allowed the fifth-fewest points to opposing offenses. Mobley is more than just an elite rim protector, as his length and quickness allow him to switch onto guards and wings. At +2000 odds on FanDuel Sportsbook, he’s an intriguing selection.

Top 2022-23 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Picks to Make: Long Shots

Ben Simmons (+2700) via FanDuel

If not for Simmons’ tumultuous last year, he wouldn’t be considered a long shot at all. Simmons didn’t play last season, but in the two campaigns prior, he was selected to the All-Defensive First Team.

Jokes abound about Simmons’ janky jumper, but his defensive versatility is unquestioned. At 6’10", Simmons has the length to defend any position on the court, and his speed allows him to switch, deflect, rebound and steal at high rates. He’s a true dark horse for the upcoming season as long as he can stay on the court.

Herb Jones (+4600) via FanDuel

The second-round pick out of Alabama made a name for himself as a rookie thanks to his elite defensive abilities and willingness to take on difficult defensive assignments on a nightly basis. We can expect continued improvement in Year 2, and if New Orleans establishes itself as a Western Conference contender, Jones could be a sneaky pick to win DPOY.

Dejounte Murray (+8000) via DraftKings

Murray made the 2017-18 Second Team All-Defense, and he led the NBA in steals last season. Now that he’s in Atlanta and playing alongside Trae Young, he won’t have as much responsibility as a scorer or facilitator. That could mean extra energy to focus on defense.

At 6’4" with a long reach, Murray can be a disruptor in passing lanes, and he’s already a strong rebounder. At +8000 odds, there’s a big payday in store if he takes the next step on defense with his new team.

Al Horford (+20000) via DraftKings

Horford is +8000 at FanDuel but a whopping +20000 at DraftKings. At 36, he’d be the oldest player to ever win the award, but it’s certainly not out of the realm of possibility. Horford had a tremendous season back with Boston and continued to play his high-IQ brand of basketball.

Horford finished right behind Rudy Gobert in best defensive rating last season, and with Robert Williams out for at least a couple of months to start the season, Horford will have to anchor a shallow frontcourt.

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NBA Defensive Player of the Year picks made on 10/14/2022 at 12 p.m. ET

Written By:
Zachary Hanshew

Zak Hanshew has been covering the NFL and NBA since 2018, writing about fantasy sports, daily fantasy sports, and sports betting. He joined Sportsbook Review for the 2022-23 NBA season and looks forward to his third NBA campaign. Zak has had bylines for over half a dozen publications, most notably Yahoo and NBA.com. As a sports writer, Zak has been recognized for his attention to detail and insight into NBA betting trends. Zak is an avid NBA bettor who loves a prop bet, particularly a favorable combo prop. Of particular interest in the betting space are long shots such as first-basket scorer, but nothing beats a triple-double prop. He loves to target plus-money props with educated and well-researched analysis to back up his picks. Zak holds a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree from West Virginia University and roots avidly for his Mountaineers.