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NBA Defensive Player of the Year Odds 2024
An NBA player hasn’t captured back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year awards since Rudy Gobert pulled the trick in in 2018 and 2019. That could change this season, as the preseason favorite among NBA DPoY betting odds is Jaren Jackson, Jr., the Memphis Grizzlies big man who won it in 2023.
The ‘Block Panther’ is a worthy favorite but there are plenty of excellent defensive players in the mix heading into the regular season. Read on for the latest odds and commentary on the NBA DPoY odds for 2024.
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NBA Defensive Player of the Year 2024 Favorites
- Jaren Jackson, Jr. +550
- Giannis Antetokounmpo +700
- Evan Mobley +700
- Anthony Davis +850
- Bam Adebayo +1000
- Brook Lopez +1600
- Rudy Gobert +1600
- Joel Embiid +2000
- Draymond Green +2000
- Victor Wembanyama +2000
*Odds via BetMGM Sportsbook
Here is a look at the top four contenders among 2024 NBA Defensive Player of the Year odds:
Jaren Jackson, Jr. (+550)
Jackson is the pre-eminent shot-blocker and lane patroller in the game today, as he has led the NBA in blocks each of the past two seasons. He averaged 3.0 blocks per game last year, which is rare air, as only Hassan Whiteside and Myles Turner have accomplished the feat within the past 10 years.
Defensive Player of the Year voters generally do a good job but it can sometimes be hard to quantify the impact of wing defenders through statistics. Jackson may have a leg up in that regard since his blocks are a good reminder of his ability to impact a game, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see his DPoY odds shorten as the season progresses. Head over to BetMGM if you’d like to place a wager on the DPOY 2024 favorite, and pick up a great free bets offer when you sign up.
Giannis Antetokounmpo (+700)
The Greek Freak is a dominant player on both ends of the court. Antetokounmpo won Defensive Player of the Year back in 2020 and has become a mainstay across each season’s DPoY odds.
The addition of Damian Lillard could take some of the pressure off him on the offensive side of the court and allow Antetokounmpo to be even more of a menace defensively.
Antetokounmpo’s steal and block numbers did dip under 1.0 last season, so he will likely need to increase those in order to win the award. With increased attention on his defensive game, Giannis has every chance of making good on his DPoY 2024 odds and securing his second award.
Evan Mobley (+700)
Mobley, the third-year power forward for the Cavaliers, is an intriguing candidate on this list. He finished third in Defensive Player of the Year voting last season, behind Jackson and Brook Lopez, and opens the 2023-24 season as the third-favorite among DPoY betting odds.
Mobley will be 22 years old this season and is at a ripe spot in his career in that he’s gained valuable experience but is still in his physical prime. He averaged 9.0 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 0.8 steals per game last season. If he sees a slight uptick in those numbers and continues his defensive prowess, Mobley’s DPoY odds looks set to shorten even further.
Anthony Davis (+850)
Davis is one of the best defensive players in the NBA year in and year out, and he’s still only 30 years old this season. He averaged 9.1 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and 1.1 steals per game a year ago.
A big concern, though, is durability. Davis only played in 56 games last year and 40 the year before. His career has been littered with injuries and too many games missed would affect his ability to win this award.
But if Davis can stay on the court and continue to play at a high level defensively, this honor is not out of reach. Provided he remains fit throughout the season, his +850 DPoY odds could be a fantastic opening price.
How the NBA Defensive Player of the Year is Decided
The Defensive Player of the Year award — now also known as the Hakeem Olajuwon trophy — is presented to the best-performing defensive player in the regular season. The playoffs have no bearing on the voting. Typically, players with the best rebound and block stats, with only eight perimeter players having won the award in its history. The most recent of these was Kawhi Leonard in both 2015 and 2016.
At the end of the regular season, a panel of 124 leading media members casts three votes for their first, second, and third-best nominees. The first-place vote is worth five points, second is worth three points, and third is worth one point. The player with the most points, regardless of whether they were selected first more than any other player, wins the DPoY award.
As of the 2023-24 season, the NBA players’ new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) will mean that players will only be eligible for the award if they have amassed 65 appearances of 20 minutes or more. Two “near misses” are allowed whereby a player may be eligible if for two of his 65 appearances he racked up between 15 and 19 minutes. Players with 62 games’ worth of 20-minute appearances may also be included if they suffered season-ending injuries or have fallen victim to what the CBA defines as “bad faith circumstances”.
NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award History
Who have been the dominant defensive forces in years past? Take a look at the winners of Defensive Player of the Year over the past decade.
- 2023 – Jaren Jackson, Memphis Grizzlies
- 2022 – Marcus Smart, Boston Celtics
- 2021 – Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz
- 2020 – Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
- 2019 – Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz
- 2018 – Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz
- 2017 – Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors
- 2016 – Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs
- 2015 – Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs
- 2014 – Joakim Noah, Chicago Bulls
Teams with No NBA Defensive Player of the Year Winners
A surprising number of NBA teams have failed to register a single Defensive Player of the Year award. At the time of writing, this applies to the following franchises:
- Brooklyn Nets
- Charlotte Hornets
- Cleveland Cavaliers
- Dallas Mavericks
- Los Angeles Clippers
- Minnesota Timberwolves
- New Orleans Pelicans
- Phoenix Suns
- Portland Trail Blazers
- Sacramento Kings
- Toronto Raptors
- Washington Wizards
NBA Defensive Player of the Year Odds FAQs
Who won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award last year?
Memphis Grizzlies power forward Jaren Jackson is the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. The 23-year-old big man led the NBA with three blocked shots per game and altered countless more, proving to be an excellent last line of defense.
Who decides the NBA Defensive Player of the Year?
As with other NBA end-of-season awards, the Defensive Player of the Year is selected by a panel of North American sportswriters. Each member of the panel casts a first, second and third place vote (worth 5 points, 3 points and 1 point, respectively), and the player with the most points wins.
Can a player win Defensive Player of the Year more than once?
Yes, 10 different players have won NBA Defensive Player of the Year more than once, led by Ben Wallace and Dikembe Mutombo with four apiece. The active players with multiple Defensive Player of the Year awards are Clippers swingman Kawhi Leonard and Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert.
Which player holds the most NBA Defensive Player of the Year awards?
Two players have amassed four Defensive Player of the year awards: Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace. Mutombo won his four awards in 1995, 1997, 1998, and 2001 — once for the Denver Nuggets, twice for the Atlanta Hawks, and once for the Philadelphia 76ers respectively. Wallace’s awards came in 2002, 2003, 2005, and 2006, all whilst playing for the Detroit Pistons.
Who is the favorite to win NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2024?
At the time of writing, Jaren Jackson is the favorite among NBA DPoY odds, with +550 at BetMGM.
When is the NBA Defensive Player of the Year announced?
The NBA Defensive Player of the Year will be announced shortly after the conclusion of the NBA Finals sometime in June 2024. The three finalists will be announced soon after the end of the regular season, with the final games dated for April 14 2024. If you're looking to get the best odds for NBA Defensive Player of the Year, generally speaking you'll get them earlier in the season rather than later.
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