2024-2025 NBA DPOY Odds and Best Bets

The NBA season is almost here. One of the most fun parts of the NBA and one of the best ways to find value in the preseason NBA betting, is awards. The markets for Most Valuable Player, Most Improved Player, Rookie of the Year, Sixth Man of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Coach of the Year offer ways to bet on a team’s success outside of the standard futures markets.

Let’s take a look at each award’s winner, see what leads to success, and find the best prices for us to bet. Today: Defensive Player of the Year.

2024-2025 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Odds and Best Bets

Past 10 Winners

• 2024: Rudy Gobert (MIN)
• 2023: Jaren Jackson Jr. (MEM)
• 2022: Marcus Smart (BOS)
• 2021: Rudy Gobert (UTA)
• 2020: Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL)
• 2019: Rudy Gobert (UTA)
• 2018: Rudy Gobert (UTA)
• 2017: Draymond Green (GSW)
• 2016: Kawhi Leonard (SAS)
• 2015: Kawhi Leonard (SAS)

Key Takeaways from Past Winners

• Nine of the last 10 winners played on teams with a top-two defensive rating in the league. The 10^th team was the 2020-21 Utah Jazz, who finished third in defensive rating.
• They are all starters on winning teams. On average, the Defensive Player of the Year is on a team with a 69.6% win rate.
• There are several multiple-time winners. There were only six unique winners over the last 10 years. There have only been 13 unique winners over the last 20 years.
• Only one guard has won Defensive Player of the Year in the last 10 seasons.
• The DPOY averages 1.3 steals per game and 1.7 blocks per game.
• To summarize: We’re looking for a starter on a very good team with a top-three defensive rating who will get at least a steal and a block a game.

Current Best DPOY Betting Odds

Bets to Avoid

Victor Wembanyama

(-170, DraftKings Sportsbook)

I acknowledge that he should be the favorite to win this award and, in most scenarios, Wembanyama wins this award. A price of -170 means Wemby would have to win 63% of the time to break even betting him at that price. Honestly, 63% might be too low, but there’s too much risk to warrant betting this price right now. The San Antonio Spurs could still be cautious with his minutes and games played limiting his opportunity. I hate to put this out into the universe, but there is also always the chance of injury. Wembanyama is the clear top choice for DPOY, but I don’t think there’s value betting on it at this price.

Bam Adebayo

(+1200, FanDuel Sportsbook/BetMGM)

Adebayo is arguably the best defensive player in the NBA. He’s a good rim protector who can slow down players bigger than him while also guarding more athletic players on the perimeter. Unfortunately, the Miami Heat haven’t been a top-three defensive team in the last five seasons and have finished as a top-three seed just once in that time. Barring some unforeseen change early in the season, those trends are likely to continue and keep Adebayo out of serious contention for this award.

Anthony Davis

(+3000, BetMGM)

What are the chances that the Lakers win 60% or more of their games, have a top-three defense, and Davis avoids missing games for the second year in a row? Los Angeles has won more than 60% of their games just once in the last 10 seasons. They’ve had a top-three defense just twice in that span. Davis, who was only fourth in DPOY voting last season, has only played the required 65 games once in the last six seasons. It ain’t happening, so even at +3000, please don’t bet on it.

Bets to Consider Later in the Season

Chet Holmgren

(+1200, FanDuel Sportsbook/BetMGM/DraftKings Sportsbook)

The Oklahoma City Thunder will almost certainly win at least 60% of their games and could get into the top three in defensive rating. They finished fourth in defense last season and added pieces to improve things even further. Maybe Alex Caruso or Luguentz Dort steals some credit away from Holmgren, but Chet will be a starter every night and as a big man, more likely to get the attention. I don’t expect this number to move much early in the season, so I want to take that time to see how OKC arranges their lineups and if Holmgren looks comfortable.

Bets to Place

Evan Mobley

(+1600, DraftKings Sportsbook/BetRivers, 0.5U)

Mobley is one of the most versatile defenders in the league. He’s a good perimeter defender and a great rim protector who makes highlight plays regularly. The Cleveland Cavaliers are in good position to be a top seed in the Eastern Conference and have the tools to be a top-three defense like they were in 2023. I make Mobley the second favorite to win this award and would price him around +1000. Mobley should check all the boxes needed to win DPOY and at +1600 or better, I’m willing to bet on it.