2025 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Odds & Predictions

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A photo of Rudy Gobert.
(Wikimedia Commons/Eric Drost)
Sameer Kumar @S_Kumar2 Jul 12, 2024, 10:23 AM
  • Rudy Gobert has won four Defensive Player of the Year awards.
  • Victor Wembanyama finished second in DPOY voting in his rookie season.
  • Wembanyama averaged 3.6 blocks and 1.2 steals per game last season.

Rudy Gobert (+900) earned the 2023-2024 Defensive Player of the Year award, the fourth of his career.

Victor Wembanyama (-250) gave the fellow Frenchman a good run for his money in just his first year in the league, but the reigning Rookie of the Year opens up as the overwhelming favourite to take home the DPOY next season.

Let’s take a look at the rest of the Defensive Player of the Year basketball odds.

2025 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Odds & Predictions

PlayerTeam Odds
Victor WembanyamaSan Antonio Spurs-250
Rudy GobertMinnesota Timberwolves+900
Bam AdebayoMiami Heat+1600
Giannis AntetokounmpoMilwaukee Bucks+1600
Jaren Jackson Jr.Memphis Grizzlies+1800
Anthony DavisLos Angeles Lakers+1800
Evan MobleyCleveland Cavaliers+2000
Chet HolmgrenOklahoma City Thunder+2200
OG AnunobyNew York Knicks+2500
Joel EmbiidPhiladelphia 76ers+2500
Jrue HolidayBoston Celtics+4000
Jarrett AllenCleveland Cavaliers+4000
Brook LopezMilwaukee Bucks+5000
Derrick WhiteBoston Celtics+5000
Alex CarusoOklahoma City Thunder+5000
Jalen SuggsOrlando Magic+6600
Mikal BridgesNew York Knicks+6600
Draymond GreenGolden State Warriors+6600
Herbert JonesNew Orleans Pelicans+6600
Luguentz DortOklahoma City Thunder+6600
Jaden McDanielsMinnesota Timberwolves+6600
Jonathan IsaacOrlando Magic+6600

2025 Odds to Win NBA Defensive Player of the Year

Victor Wembanyama Defensive Player of the Year Odds -250

San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama currently has -250 odds of winning the 2025 NBA Defensive Player of the Year award.

The reigning Rookie of the Year finished second last season, using his impressive length and size to disrupt shots both near the rim and on the perimeter. Those intangibles are why he’s my best online sportsbook bet to make next season.

Wembanyama averaged a whopping 3.6 blocks and 1.2 steals per game last season and held opponents to 53.6% shooting within six feet of the rim, the sixth highest among players who defended at least five of those shot attempts and played no less than 60 games.

Wemby is going to be a regular atop the NBA odds to win Defensive Player of the Year for the rest of his career. It wouldn’t be a shock if he ends up with the most of all time.

Rudy Gobert Defensive Player of the Year Odds +900

Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert currently has +900 odds to win the 2025 NBA Defensive Player of the Year.

The four-time Defensive Player of the Year smothers the rim at an elite level, as he averaged 2.1 blocks per game last season while holding opponents to 49.4% shooting within six feet of the rim, the highest among players who defended at least five of those shot attempts and played a minimum of 60 games.

Gobert is tied with Ben Wallace and Dikembe Mutombo for the most DPOY awards. However, his struggles of defending on the perimeters and sticking with bigs with immaculate footwork, such as Nikola Jokić, could hinder his chances of breaking that tie.

Bam Adebayo Defensive Player of the Year Odds +1600

Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo currently has +1600 odds to win the 2025 NBA Defensive Player of the Year.

 

The five-time All-Defensive big man is an elite defender on the perimeter who can guard every position 1-5 and stick with the ball handler, whether it be on the drive or if he’s forced to switch on a pick-and-roll.

Adebayo isn’t known to be a rim protector and is an undersized center, but he can still body up bigger players, stand his ground, and force them into more difficult shots near the rim.

Adebayo is playing out of position at the four spot for Team USA, but he understands the importance of finding his niche within the confines of a team filled with the league’s best players.

“It’s one of those things where you have so much talent, man, you gotta, you gotta somehow figure out how to be a chameleon and kinda, kinda mix in and, and find your niche,” Adebayo said while addressing BetMGM and other media members at the Team USA training camp in Las Vegas. “This isn’t about who can go get 30. We’re all the number one, number two options on our team.”

Giannis Antetokounmpo Defensive Player of the Year Odds +1600

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo currently has +1600 odds to win the 2025 NBA Defensive Player of the Year.

The 2019-2020 DPOY defends extremely well at the rim and on the perimeter, largely due to his size and length. His lateral quickness also helps him stick with his opponent and force them into difficult shots.

Nobody is safe on the fast break against the Bucks, as Antetokounmpo scurries downcourt faster than a deer to erase what would’ve been easy layups.

Jaren Jackson Jr. Defensive Player of the Year Odds +1800

Memphis Grizzles center Jaren Jackson Jr. currently has +1800 odds to win the 2025 Defensive Player of the Year.

The 2022-2023 DPOY swats away shots like no other, buoyed by his ability to quickly slide over to contest shots and understand the timing of when shots such as layups and floaters go up. His lateral quickness and overall basketball IQ also help him stay in front of his opponent and put down the clamps. 

Anthony Davis Defensive Player of the Year Odds +1800

Los Angeles Lakers center Anthony Davis currently has +1800 odds to win the 2025 Defensive Player of the Year.

The five-time All-Defensive big man is agile and uses his length to contest shots at the rim, leading to many blocks. His agility also helps him defend on the perimeter and guard all positions. Due to his mobility, I think there’s a strong case for Davis to start at center for Team USA over Joel Embiid. 

Additionally, Davis can body up opposing big men and take away their space to prevent them from getting clean shot attempts off.

About the Author

Sameer Kumar

Read More @S_Kumar2

Sameer Kumar is an NBA writer for BetMGM who specializes in providing analysis on player performance and telling stories beyond the numbers. He graduated from SUNY Oswego with a B.A. in Broadcasting & Mass Communication.

Sameer Kumar is an NBA writer for BetMGM who specializes in providing analysis on player performance and telling stories beyond the numbers. He graduated from SUNY Oswego with a B.A. in Broadcasting & Mass Communication.