While it seems like the 2021-22 NBA season just began yesterday, we’re already closing in on the halfway mark. A lot has happened in the league over that time, including changes to the individual season award odds. For example, Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert opened the season as BetOnline’s favorite to be named Defensive Player of the Year.
Fast forward to Dec. 20 and Golden State Warriors power forward Draymond Green is BetOnline’s new DPOY favorite. His odds of taking home the award currently sit at +110.
It isn’t too much of a surprise to see Green in the conversation when it comes to being one of the league’s top defensive players. He’s been on six NBA All-Defensive teams in his career and was even named Defensive Player of the Year in 201, so this award isn’t anything new to him.
Nevertheless, Green is back at his defensive best again this season. The 31-year-old is averaging 1.0 blocks, 7.9 rebounds — his best since his DPOY season — and 1.3 steals per game. He also leads the Warriors with 2.0 defensive win shares and is tied for second on the team lead when it comes to total WS (2.9).
Overall, Green’s defense has helped the Warriors average a league-best 101.1 points against per game this season. Considering how he said back in November that he wants to be named Defensive Player of the Year this season, it’s safe to say that the crafty veteran is on his way to accomplishing that goal.
2021-22 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Odds
Odds via BetOnline as of Monday, December 20
- Draymond Green (+110)
- Rudy Gobert (+200)
- Giannis Antetokounmpo (+800)
- Anthony Davis (+2000)
- Joel Embiid (+2000)
- Evan Mobley (+2000)
- Mikal Bridges (+2000)
- Myles Turner (+2500)
- Bam Adebayo (+2500)
- Jarrett Allen (+3300)
The complete odds list is available at BetOnline.ag.
Rudy Gobert DPOY Odds
While he may no longer be the favorite, Gobert’s +200 odds to be named 2021-22 NBA Defensive Player of the Year are more than respectable.
Gobert is, once again, at the top of his game, leading the league with 14.8 rebounds per game — 11.7 of which are defensive. He also leads the league with a 38.1% defensive rebound rating. On top of that, he’s also averaging 2.3 blocks per game, further cementing his nickname as the ‘Stifle Tower.’
To really see Gobert’s defensive impact, you need to look at his advanced stats. The 29-year-old Frenchman is not only leading the league with 2.1 defensive shares (his second year in a row doing so if he keeps pace), but he’s also the NBA leader with 5.4 total win shares.
If Gobert is successful, it’ll be his fourth time in five years being named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year. He’d also join Hall of Famers Ben Wallace and Dikembe Mutombo as the only other players in league history to win it four times. That’s definitely the sort of company that any player would want to be associated with.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Defensive Player of the Year Odds
Coming in at a somewhat distant third for the NBA Defensive Player of the Year odds race is Giannis Antetokounmpo at +800.
Like Green and Gobert, Antetokounmpo isn’t new to the DPOY scene, having won the award back in the 2019-20 season. Considering how he’s been named to NBA All-Defensive teams in each of the last five seasons, it isn’t too shocking to see him involved in this award conversation once again.
The ‘Greek Freak’ has been all over the place this season, averaging 11.6 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 1.6 blocks per game, the latter of which is his best average since 2016-17. His 4.8% block rating is the best of his career and he also leads the Milwaukee Bucks with 1.6 defensive win shares. While his defensive numbers aren’t totally on-par with Gobert and Green, Antetokounmpo has still proven that he belongs in the Defensive Player of the Year discussion.
