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Combined defensive scores, steals and blocks leaders, and the DPOY race projection based on current stats.
| # | Player | Team | Pos | SPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | OKC | SG | 2 | 30.1 |
| 2 | De'Aaron Fox | SAC | PG | 2 | 26.6 |
| 3 | Donovan Mitchell | CLE | SG | 1.8 | 26.6 |
| 4 | Luka Doncic | DAL | PG | 1.4 | 33.9 |
| 5 | Nikola Jokic | DEN | C | 1.4 | 26.4 |
| 6 | Anthony Edwards | MIN | SG | 1.3 | 25.9 |
| 7 | LeBron James | LAL | SF | 1.3 | 25.7 |
| 8 | Trae Young | ATL | PG | 1.3 | 25.7 |
| 9 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | MIL | PF | 1.2 | 30.4 |
| 10 | Tyrese Haliburton | IND | PG | 1.2 | 20.1 |
| # | Player | Team | Pos | BPG | RPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anthony Davis | LAL | PF | 2.3 | 12.6 |
| 2 | Joel Embiid | PHI | C | 1.7 | 11 |
| 3 | Kevin Durant | PHX | SF | 1.2 | 6.6 |
| 4 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | MIL | PF | 1.1 | 11.5 |
| 5 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | OKC | SG | 0.9 | 5.5 |
| 6 | Nikola Jokic | DEN | C | 0.9 | 12.4 |
| 7 | Tyrese Haliburton | IND | PG | 0.7 | 3.9 |
| 8 | Jayson Tatum | BOS | SF | 0.6 | 8.1 |
| 9 | Luka Doncic | DAL | PG | 0.5 | 9.2 |
| 10 | Anthony Edwards | MIN | SG | 0.5 | 5.4 |
| # | Player | Pos | SPG | BPG | DEF Score | Tier | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anthony Davis | Los Angeles Lakers | PF | 1.2 | 2.3 | 11.8 | Elite |
| 2 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Oklahoma City Thunder | SG | 2 | 0.9 | 9.8 | All-Defense |
| 3 | Joel Embiid | Philadelphia 76ers | C | 1 | 1.7 | 8.1 | All-Defense |
| 4 | De'Aaron Fox | Sacramento Kings | PG | 2 | 0.4 | 7.5 | All-Defense |
| 5 | Donovan Mitchell | Cleveland Cavaliers | SG | 1.8 | 0.4 | 7.4 | All-Defense |
| 6 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | Milwaukee Bucks | PF | 1.2 | 1.1 | 6.9 | Solid |
| 7 | Nikola Jokic | Denver Nuggets | C | 1.4 | 0.9 | 6.9 | Solid |
| 8 | Tyrese Haliburton | Indiana Pacers | PG | 1.2 | 0.7 | 6.8 | Solid |
| 9 | Kevin Durant | Phoenix Suns | SF | 0.9 | 1.2 | 6.3 | Solid |
| 10 | Jaylen Brown | Boston Celtics | SG | 1.2 | 0.5 | 5.8 | Solid |
| 11 | Luka Doncic | Dallas Mavericks | PG | 1.4 | 0.5 | 5.7 | Solid |
| 12 | Anthony Edwards | Minnesota Timberwolves | SG | 1.3 | 0.5 | 5.7 | Solid |
| 13 | Jayson Tatum | Boston Celtics | SF | 1 | 0.6 | 5.5 | Solid |
| 14 | LeBron James | Los Angeles Lakers | SF | 1.3 | 0.5 | 5.4 | Solid |
| 15 | Devin Booker | Phoenix Suns | SG | 1 | 0.3 | 4.3 | Average |
| 16 | Jalen Brunson | New York Knicks | PG | 0.9 | 0.2 | 4.2 | Average |
| 17 | Trae Young | Atlanta Hawks | PG | 1.3 | 0.1 | 4.2 | Average |
| 18 | Damian Lillard | Milwaukee Bucks | PG | 1 | 0.3 | 4 | Average |
| 19 | Stephen Curry | Golden State Warriors | PG | 0.7 | 0.4 | 3.6 | Average |
| 20 | Ja Morant | Memphis Grizzlies | PG | 0.8 | 0.3 | 3.3 | Average |
| # | Player | Pos | SPG | BPG | RPG | HOF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hakeem Olajuwon | C | 1.7 | 3.1 | 11.1 | HOF |
| 2 | Victor Wembanyama | C | 1.2 | 3.6 | 10.6 | |
| 3 | David Robinson | C | 1.4 | 2.9 | 10.6 | HOF |
| 4 | Anthony Davis | PF | 1.3 | 2.3 | 10.5 | |
| 5 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | C | 0.9 | 2.6 | 11.2 | HOF |
| 6 | Patrick Ewing | C | 1 | 2.4 | 9.8 | HOF |
| 7 | Julius Erving | SF | 1.8 | 1.5 | 6.7 | HOF |
| 8 | Alonzo Mourning | C | 0.5 | 2.8 | 8.5 | HOF |
| 9 | Ben Wallace | C | 1.3 | 2 | 9.6 | HOF |
| 10 | Chet Holmgren | PF | 0.8 | 2.5 | 7.9 |
Steals per game multiplied by 3. Steals represent active perimeter defense, anticipation, and the ability to create turnovers.
Blocks per game multiplied by 3. Shot-blocking is a core rim protection skill that alters opponent shot selection.
Players with fewer than 3.0 turnovers per game receive a bonus of (3 - TOPG) x 1.5. Taking care of the ball reflects disciplined two-way play.
Defense wins championships — a maxim proven true throughout NBA history. The best defenders combine physical tools with basketball IQ to disrupt opposing offenses, protect the rim, and force turnovers. Our defensive scoring system captures these contributions through a weighted combination of steals, blocks, and ball security.
The Defensive Player of the Year award has historically gone to players who anchor their team's defense, often combining shot-blocking with the ability to switch onto multiple positions. Players like Hakeem Olajuwon, Dikembe Mutombo, and Ben Wallace set the standard for defensive excellence across different eras.
Modern NBA defense has evolved beyond traditional rim protection. Switchability, perimeter defense, and help-side awareness are now as valuable as shot-blocking. The current generation features versatile defenders who can guard multiple positions while contributing offensively.
The formula is: (SPG x 3) + (BPG x 3) + Low Turnover Bonus. The turnover bonus is (3 - TOPG) x 1.5 for players averaging fewer than 3.0 turnovers.
Both represent direct defensive impact — steals create transition opportunities while blocks protect the rim. Equal weighting respects the different but equally valuable contributions of guards and bigs.
The NBA Defensive Player of the Year is voted on by a global panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. Voters rank their top 3 candidates using a 5-3-1 points system.
No. Box score stats like steals and blocks are incomplete measures of defense. On-ball defense, help positioning, communication, and opponent FG% are all valuable but harder to quantify without tracking data.
Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace share the record with four DPOY awards each. Both were dominant rim protectors who fundamentally changed how opposing teams approached the paint.