The Defensive Participant of the 12 months award within the NBA is all the time one of the vital attention-grabbing award races. This season isn’t any completely different. With gamers corresponding to rookie sensation, Victor Wembanyama, and Cleveland Cavaliers defensive anchor, Jarrett Allen, within the operating, the Defensive Participant of the 12 months for 2024 is about for an thrilling end. Whereas Rudy Gobert of the Minnesota Timberwolves is at present the favourite, issues can all the time change over evening on this league. All odds have been verified by way of Fox Sports activities as of March twenty first , 2024.
Present Favorites to Win 2024 Defensive Participant of the 12 months
Rudy Gobert (-500 Odds)
As of March twenty first , Gobert is on monitor to win his fourth Defensive Participant of the 12 months award. He’s at present averaging 2.1 blocks per recreation, a defensive score of 104, and a defensive field plus/minus score of 1.7. Gobert has anchored an especially stout Timberwolves protection all season. It has paid dividends as they’re a top-five workforce within the Western Convention. He’s at present day-to-day with a rib harm however ought to nonetheless meet the 65-game threshold to qualify for NBA awards earlier than the top of the common season.
Victor Wembanyama (+350 Odds)
The favourite for Rookie of the 12 months can also be main the NBA in blocks per recreation at 3.5. On prime of this, Wembanyama can also be tallying 1.3 steals per recreation to go together with a defensive score of 107, a block share of 10.0 p.c which additionally leads the league, and a defensive field plus/minus score of three.0. Whereas Wembanyama’s protection has not translated into a lot workforce success, one may argue his odds for profitable the Defensive Participant of the 12 months needs to be larger.
Jarrett Allen (+6,600 Odds)
Allen has solidified himself because the defensive chief of the shocking Cleveland Cavaliers. His defensive prowess has change into contagious to the remainder of the workforce. On the yr, Jarrett Allen is averaging 1.2 blocks per recreation, 7.5 defensive rebounds, and a defensive win-share complete of three.6. Allen has really change into one of many league’s premier rim protectors and it has proven with Cleveland’s workforce success this yr.
Anthony Davis (+10,000 Odds)
Davis has all the time had the instruments to be a Defensive Participant of the 12 months. This season although, he has really purchased in on this finish of the ground. Davis is averaging 1.2 steals, 2.4 blocks per recreation, a defensive score of 110, and a defensive field plus/minus score of 1.6. Whereas the Los Angeles Lakers are struggling to get out of the play-in image within the Western Convention, Davis’s presence on the ground provides the Lakers a much-needed shot-blocker taking a few of the defensive obligations off the shoulders of his co-star, LeBron James.
Bam Adebayo (+10,000 Odds)
Bam Adebayo has all the time been among the finest defensive facilities the NBA has to supply. This season isn’t any completely different. He and Jimmy Butler seem like prepared the Miami Warmth up the Jap Convention standings. On the season, Adebayo is tallying 1.0 blocks, 1.1 steals per recreation, and a defensive win-share complete of three.4. The Warmth heart has performed extraordinarily properly as of late. One may argue he deserves higher odds to win the Defensive Participant of the 12 months award.