As is usually the case, plenty of candidates are worthy of discussion for the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award. According to the new league rules, players must play in at least 65 games to be eligible to win the award. This skews the field in favor of younger, less injury-prone players. Anthony Davis, Joel Embiid, and Brook Lopez couldn’t quite make the cut for this shortlist due to concerns about playing 65 regular-season games this year.
This will be in order of the best-value bets, going from fifth best to best. The odds are taken from DraftKings Sportsbook.
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Top 5 Candidates to Win the 2023-24 NBA Defensive Player of the Year
Jaren Jackson Jr. +600
The reigning NBA DPOY winner, Jaren Jackson Jr., is the favorite to win the award again this year. He certainly can. The Memphis Grizzlies will likely be a top-five defense this season with Jackson Jr. as the anchor. However, with odds at +600, he is not the smart pick here.
Jackson Jr. only played over 65 games once in his five-year career. He is consistently in foul trouble, limiting the amount of minutes he can play. He struggled defensively in the FIBA World Cup with Team USA. This may have slightly damaged his reputation in the eyes of the voters, making it more difficult for him to win the award. There are better choices than him.
Victor Wembanyama +2000
It is certainly improbable, but the 19-year-old phenom Victor Wembanyama winning this award is not impossible. He looked impressive throughout the preseason: mobile, strong, and fit. His length will cause many problems for opposing offenses as he can disrupt shots that no other player in the NBA can. He will almost certainly have impressive block numbers.
He has a chance if he plays over 65 games and can carry the Spurs to average defensive efficiency. If Spurs are competitive, there will be a narrative for Wembanyama to win the award.
Giannis Antetokounmpo +850
The Greek Freak took a step back defensively last season. Giannis Antetokounmpo wasn’t as destructive and impactful as we’ve been accustomed to seeing. This likely resulted from carrying too big of a burden offensively, with Khris Middleton missing most of the season.
Now, not only is Middleton back, but they also added Damian Lillard, the best offensive player Antetokounmpo has ever played with. This will take the burden from him and help him conserve more energy for the defensive end.
Antetokounmpo already has a reputation as one of the best defenders in the league and has won the award previously. This should help him get plenty of votes by default if no other candidate makes a strong case. +850 is a great value for this scenario.
Bam Adebayo +1200
Bam Adebayo’s case for DPOY will be his consistency rather than eye-popping stats. He has made the All-Defensive Second Team four seasons in a row and is considered one of the best all-around defenders in the league. If the Miami Heat overachieves and has a top-10 defense, Adebayo will get much of the credit. That, combined with his reputation, gives him a chance to win the award. Plus, he is a good bet to play over 65 games.
Evan Mobley +700
The Cleveland Cavaliers big man was already a finalist to win the award last season. He will win at least one NBA Defensive Player of the Year trophy in his career, and there is no reason to think his first can’t be this season.
The Cavs were the best defensive team in the regular season last year in terms of defensive rating. The twin towers of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen were the primary reasons for this. Mobley’s combination of rim protection, interior defense, and perimeter switching make him one of the best defenders in the league. Cleveland will likely be an elite defensive team again and should win over 50 games. In that scenario, Mobley could emerge as the favorite to win.
Long-shot pick: Nic Claxton +2500
Nic Claxton was one of the best defensive players in the league in the first half of the 2022-23 season. He couldn’t sustain it after the Brooklyn Nets traded away their superstars and reshaped their entire team mid-season. Yet, he still finished the season with averages of 9.2 rebounds, 2.5 blocks, and 0.9 steals per game in 76 contests.
The Nets should be a good defensive team with personnel consisting of Mikal Bridges, Ben Simmons, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Dennis Smith Jr. Claxton will be the anchor of this defense. If the Nets finish the season as a top-10 defense and Claxton maintains his numbers from last season, it wouldn’t shock me to see him as a finalist for the award.
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