Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert claimed his fourth career Defensive Player of the Year award in 2023-24, but a new perennial contender is poised to take his place as the cookie-cutter opening day write-in candidate. San Antonio Spurs big man Victor Wembanyama is the odds-on favorite to win with -200 odds at BetMGM after finishing second in DPOY voting as a rookie. He led the NBA with 3.6 blocks per game and was clearly one of the league most impactful defenders in his first NBA campaign. Can anyone challenge the 20-year-old Frenchman this time around?
Wembanyama currently leads all players with 64 blocks this season and is averaging 3.6 rejections per game. His prolific rim protection makes him an elite shot alterer as well. Opposing players are shooting just 41.2% from the field on attempts where he is the primary defender. Only Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler (40.9%) has a lower mark among players who have defended 14 or more shots per contest this season. Wembanyama’s average of 1.2 steals per contest shows that he’s also capable of flooding passing lanes. San Antonio team defense isn’t the best on paper, but its star center is clearly the driving force behind its success.
Two time NBA blocks leader and 2023 Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr. has the second-best odds at +600. The Memphis Grizzlies forward ranks sixth in total blocks with 44 this season. He’s also racked up 32 steals. Jackson’s defensive versatility has helped his banged up team do more than stay afloat. Memphis ranks second in the Western Conference standings with a 17-8 record despite a slew of key starters missing time at the beginning of the season. He ranks fifth in total fouls committed with 75 but manages to change games with his defense regardless.
The Cleveland Cavaliers’ Evan Mobley and Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green both come in at +1400. Mobley has the better counting stats with 37 blocks and 26 steals on the year. He also helps anchor the team with the best record (21-4) in the NBA. Mobley didn’t play in enough games to qualify for the award in 2023-24, but finished third in the voting the previous season. Being paired with Jarrett Allen could hurt the case for his individual impact, though. Green, on the other hand, might be too much of a pariah to win at this point despite the Dubs’ sixth-ranked scoring defense. The 34-year-old’s public perception has taken a hit since he won the award in 2017.
Wembanya has every right to be the favorite, but the award is far from his. The Spurs will have to battle to make the playoffs in the Western Conference and team success has long been a major factor when determining a Defensive Player of the Year. Jackson, Mobley, and even Gobert (+3500, BetMGM) have time to gain ground on the second-year phenom. Bettors should hold onto their money for now when it comes to this award.
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