Sororite
Basketball dropping through the net in a lit arena

NBA Defensive Player of the Year Odds

NBA Defensive Player of the Year odds price each candidate's chance of winning the Hakeem Olajuwon Trophy. Rim-protecting centres usually lead the market, and eligibility requires 65 games played.
View DPOY Prices

Why Do Big Men Lead the Market?

Centres win the award far more often than other positions. A rim protector changes every possession: he blocks shots, alters others and keeps opponents away from the basket. That impact shows up in team defensive ratings, which voters watch closely. Guards have a harder path. Gary Payton won in 1996, and no guard won again until Marcus Smart in 2022. Wings and versatile forwards appear more often, especially when they guard several positions. The price board usually reflects this split, with two or three big men at the top.

Which Stats Do Voters Weigh?

Blocks and steals are the most visible numbers, but voters look further. Defensive rating shows how many points a team allows per 100 possessions with a player on the floor. Opponent field goal percentage at the rim measures how well he protects the basket.
Team success amplifies all of this. A top-five team defence with one clear anchor makes a strong case. A great individual defender on a poor defensive team rarely wins. Team defence often decides close races, so standings matter as much as personal stats.

How Does the 65-Game Rule Change the Race?

Candidates must play at least 65 games to qualify, a rule in place since the 2023-24 season. Big men carry a heavy physical load, and a few minor injuries can push a favourite below the line. If a player misses 18 games, his chance is usually gone, and any bet on him loses. Bettors track games remaining against games missed. A favourite who has already missed 12 games by February carries more risk than his price suggests. A durable second choice on a strong defence can offer better value.

Do Previous Winners Keep Winning?

Repeat winners are common in this award. Dikembe Mutombo, Ben Wallace and Rudy Gobert have each won it four times. Once a player becomes the league's defensive reference, voters return to him while his team stays strong.
That habit shapes the odds. The previous winner often opens as favourite, sometimes at a short price. Value appears when a new candidate's team defence improves sharply, or when the holder's minutes or team results drop. The same logic applies to hockey trophy futures, where repeat winners also shape the board.

How Do Bettors Shortlist DPOY Candidates?

Check Team Defensive Rating
Candidates on top-ten defensive teams form the realistic shortlist.
Count Games Played
Confirm each candidate can still reach 65 games with a margin for injuries.
Compare Price and Narrative
A clear storyline, such as turning a weak defence into a strong one, often draws votes.
Revisit After the Trade Deadline
Roster changes in February can lift or weaken a team's defence and shift the race.

Check the Defensive Award Board

Compare Defensive Player of the Year prices across the leading candidates.
View Award Futures

Defensive Player of the Year FAQ

Has a guard like Michael Jordan won the award?
Yes, Michael Jordan won Defensive Player of the Year in 1988, the same season he won MVP. He remains one of very few perimeter players to win both awards. His win shows that elite guards can take the award when their defensive impact is obvious. In the modern game, though, centres and versatile forwards have taken most of the trophies.
When was the award first given?
The award has been presented since the 1982-83 season. Sidney Moncrief won the first two editions. The trophy was named after Hakeem Olajuwon starting with the 2022-23 season, when the league named its major awards after past greats. Olajuwon won it twice himself, in 1993 and 1994, as one of the best defensive centres in league history.
Do blocks decide the defensive award?
Blocks matter, but they do not decide the award alone. Some players block many shots but leave their position, which hurts team defence. Voters prefer players whose presence keeps opponents away from the rim. Defensive rating, opponent shooting at the rim and team results all carry weight alongside block totals.
Can one player win DPOY and MVP in the same season?
Yes, the same player can win Defensive Player of the Year and MVP in one season. It has happened only a few times, including Michael Jordan in 1988 and Hakeem Olajuwon in 1994. Both awards need elite impact and strong team results. Bettors who back one candidate for both awards should remember that each bet settles separately.
When do defensive award markets open?
Defensive Player of the Year markets usually open in the summer, after free agency and the draft. Early prices are long because rotations and team quality are still uncertain. The board tightens over the first months of the regular season. By the All-Star break, the race is often down to a few names, and most of the early value is gone.
How are All-Defensive team bets different?
All-Defensive teams are separate honours that name the best defenders of the season, regardless of position. Some books offer markets on which players make the first or second team. These bets settle independently of the main award. They suit bettors who rate a player's defence but doubt he can win the trophy outright.
What happens to a bet if the player is traded?
A trade does not void a Defensive Player of the Year bet. The player's games for both teams count toward the 65-game total and the season record. A move to a stronger defensive team can help his case, while a move to a weaker one can hurt it. Odds react quickly to trade news, often within minutes of the announcement.
Do long shots ever win the defensive award?
Long shots win occasionally, usually when a lesser-known player anchors a defence that surprises the league. The favourite's injury can also open the door. Over a season, a few large prices can pay well, but most long shots lose. Small stakes on two or three value picks spread that risk more sensibly than a single large bet.
Alexandre Chenier, Senior Hockey Betting Analyst

Alexandre Chenier

Senior Hockey Betting Analyst

Alexandre Chenier has tracked NHL betting trends and award voting patterns for over a decade. At Sororite, he evaluates market lines across licensed sportsbooks, specializing in trophy value and our latest Calder Trophy predictions.