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The race for the NBA Defensive Player of the Year is heating up for the first time in months. Victor Wembanyama had been the clear front-runner at our top NBA betting sites until an injury took him out of contention.
Before we examine our picks, be sure to check out the best NBA Basketball Betting Sites.
We’re witnessing a tight battle between Draymond Green and Evan Mobley for the DPOY award. They lead the current odds. However, a surprising contender has emerged recently.
Can Dyson Daniels make a significant push before the season wraps up?
Explore this possibility and more in our latest update on the NBA Defensive Player of the Year odds:
2025 Defensive Player of Year Odds
| To Win 2025 NBA Defensive Player of the Year |  |  |  |
| Draymond Green | -125 | -105 | -130 |
| Evan Mobley | -110 | -115 | -105 |
| Dyson Daniels | +1200 | +1400 | +1200 |
| Jaren Jackson Jr. | +1800 | +2000 | +2000 |
| Lugentz Dort | +2500 | +5000 | +3500 |
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | +15000 | +15000 | +20000 |
Draymond Green
Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors is now the favorite to win the Defensive Player of the Year award, surpassing Cleveland Cavaliers’ Evan Mobley.
Since his 2012 debut, Green has become one of the league’s most versatile defenders, earning eight All-Defensive Team selections and winning the DPOY Award in 2016-17.
His candidacy improved following injuries to San Antonio Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama and Memphis Grizzlies’ Jaren Jackson Jr., who previously led the DPOY race.
Draymond Green is DPOY pic.twitter.com/FGfDwBvzMe
— Jay Croucher (@croucherJD) March 20, 2025
However, Green’s recent performance—averaging 5.6 defensive rebounds, 2.6 steals, and 2.2 blocks over his last five games—has boosted his chances.
This season, Green has a defensive rating of 108.5 in 57 games, with averages of 1.4 steals and 1.1 blocks per game, showcasing his effectiveness in limiting opponents.
I would pass on this one, I don’t like those odds for Green.
Evan Mobley
With the Cleveland Cavaliers holding the best record in the NBA, it’s easy to see why Evan Mobley is a frontrunner for the Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) this season.
In 61 games, Mobley has been impressive, averaging 18.7 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.6 blocks per game. His shooting stats are also noteworthy, hitting 56.9% from the field and 36.5% from three-point range.
2 minutes of Evan Mobley being the wrong guy to target: pic.twitter.com/D5vj0K4aGX
— Tony Pesta (@Tony_Pesta) March 24, 2025
His contributions have played a significant role in the Cavaliers achieving the 10th-best scoring defense and the eighth-best defensive rating in the league.
Cleveland’s record is impressive, 57-14, placing them firmly at the top of the Eastern Conference. They currently lead the Boston Celtics in second place by five games, further solidifying their status as serious contenders for the championship.
Mobley winning this award would make sense considering the voters may want to reward him for the Cavs strong season.
I would bet this one at -110 odds at BetOnline.
Dyson Daniels
For most of the season, Daniels had largely flown under the radar of oddsmakers.
He wasn’t included in the initial odds for this award and didn’t gain much attention after Wembanyama’s injury. However, specific standout performances can’t be overlooked.
His seven steals against the Heat, while not his highest for the season, caught the eyes of leading sports betting sites. As a result of his impressive defensive stats, oddsmakers have brought the Atlanta guard into contention.
He’s tied with Kelly Oubre for the most steals in a single game this season, with eight. Overall, Daniels boasts 11 games with five or more steals, more than double that of the next player closest to him.
His chances for recognition will ultimately depend on whether voters consider steals as significant as other statistics like blocks. Daniels is a fun longshot, but I don’t get the sense that the voters value steals as much as other defensive metrics.
I would pass on this one.
Click here for more regarding the best NBA Odds in the league on games and other award races.
Jaren Jackson Jr.
Jackson Jr. was closest to catching Wembanyama before the latter’s season-ending injury.
While the 2023 NBA Defensive Player of the Year isn’t quite matching the impressive stats from his award-winning season—where he averaged 3.0 blocks per game—he continues to excel defensively.
His defensive stats remain among the league’s best, with averages of 1.6 blocks and 1.3 steals per game. He has helped Memphis achieve the seventh-best defensive rating as they enter the second half of the season.
Case for Jaren Jackson Jr: He's done a good job defending shots at the rim and in the paint.
Case against JJJ: He's not the primary rim protector for the Grizzlies and has fewer rim protecting responsibilities than some other alternatives, like Zubac. pic.twitter.com/n5ypZspMKu
— Todd Whitehead (@CrumpledJumper) March 23, 2025
Consequently, following the update on Wembanyama, JJJ emerges as a slight favorite to claim the award again. While he’s been playing well he’s in a difficult spot given the injury issues and games missed.
I would pass on this one as well.
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