NBA Defensive Player of the Year Race: Top 5 Players Favored to Win DPOY Plum

New Orleans Pelicans v Memphis Grizzlies

(Photo : Justin Ford/Getty Images) MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - Zion Williamson (#1) of the New Orleans Pelicans dunks against Jaren Jackson Jr. (#13) of the Memphis Grizzlies during the game at FedExForum on October 25, 2023 in Memphis, Tennessee.

The 2023-24 NBA season may be in the early stages, but some players have already been showcasing their defensive prowess. This has brought up the early favorites for the 2023-24 NBA Defensive Player of the Year award.

This early in the season, the big men have been dominating on the defensive end. Here are the top five thus far per Statmuse, with three from the Minnesota Timberwolves on the list.

Rudy Gobert, Minnesota Timberwolves (95.7)
Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves (98.2)
Deandre Ayton, Portland Trail Blazers (99.3)
Mitchell Robinson, New York Knicks (99.5)
Kyle Anderson, Minnesota Timberwolves (100.5)

From that list, Gobert is a three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year winner. Should he stay the course, the 31-year-old French player could snag his fourth DPOY award.

Gobert won the award in 2018, 2019, and 2021, all while still a member of the Utah Jazz, the New York Times reported.

Too early to tell

Given that the 2023-24 NBA season is in the early goings, these rankings are subject to change. Several names could dislodge this preliminary list. That includes names such as Anthony Davis (Los Angeles Lakers), Jaren Jackson Jr. (Memphis Grizzlies), Evan Mobley (Cleveland Cavaliers) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks).

From the names mentioned, the odds of each winning the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award see Jackson a favorite at the moment with a +500 odds of winning it, per Sports Betting Dime. Not far behind is Mobley with +550. Below are the top 5 favorites for the DPOY award.

Jaren Jackson Jr. (Memphis Grizzlies) - +500
Evan Mobley (Cleveland Cavaliers) - +550
Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks) - +750
Antony Davis (Los Angeles Lakers) - +800
Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs) - +1000

From that list, it will be tough to call on who will win the award. Spurs rookie Wembanyama should be a lock to win it with his 7-foot-4 frame protecting the rim. However, it is not all about blocking, a reason why players like Antetokounmpo and Davis have a good chance to win the DPOY award, SI.com reported.

Aside from Gobert, Antetokounmpo and Jackson could join the list of players who have won the award more than once. Antetokounmpo won the award in 2020, while Jackson bagged it last season.

Other names that need to be monitored include Jrue Holiday, Marcus Smart, Patrick Beverly, and Joel Embiid. Expect that list to be updated in the coming months as the 2023-24 season progresses.