- Victor Wembanyama has been shut down for the season by the San Antonio Spurs
- Wemby was the heavy favorite in the NBA Defensive Player of the Year odds before the news
- See the current NBA Defensive Player of the Year for everyone still on the board
Unwelcome news out of San Antonio on Thursday morning as the Spurs announced All-Star center Victor Wembanyama (24.3 PPG, 11.0 RPG, 3.7 APG) would be shut down for the rest of the season due to deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder. Wemby was the odds-on favorite to win NBA Defensive Player of the Year in just his second season in the league, while his Spurs were sitting just 3.5 games back of a berth in the Play-In Tournament as of Thursday morning. Both the DPOY odds and playoff futures moved significantly after today’s announcement.
Updated NBA Defensive Player of the Year Odds
Wembanyama was sitting at -2500 to win his first NBA DPOY before the injury news, which equates to a 96.15% implied win probability. Ahead of last season, the NBA implemented a 65-game minimum for most major awards, including Defensive Player of the Year. Wemby has played
Current odds as of Feb. 20 at FanDuel. Previous odds as of Feb. 19 at BetMGM and Caesars. Claim a BetMGM bonus code today.
Now that Wembanyama is out, Memphis forward Jaren Jackson Jr has taken over as the -115 favorite in the NBA Defensive Player of the Year odds. Cleveland’s Evan Mobley is a close second at +115 in what oddsmakers now see as a tight two-horse race.
Jackson is averaging 6.0 rebounds, 1.6 blocks, and 1.3 steals per game in 29.8 MPG the Grizzlies, who are still, against the odds, sitting second in the Western Conference.
Mobley is averaging 9.1 rebounds per game along with 1.5 blocks and 0.9 steals while playing exactly 30.0 minutes a night for a Cavs team that’s opened a 5.5-game lead atop the Eastern Conference standings.
Third-favorite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who’s also the NBA MVP favorite, is priced at a distant +1900. Houston guard Dyson Daniels (+2200) is the only other player shorter than +2900.
Jackson won the award two years ago. Rudy Gobert, who has won four times (2018, 2019, 2021, 2024), is now a +4800 longshot to win DPOY for a fifth-time, which would set a new record. Gobert currently shares the record for most DPOY wins with Ben Wallace and the late Dikembe Mutombo.
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The recent injury to Victor Wembanyama, a rising star in the NBA, has had a significant impact on the betting odds for the Defensive Player of the Year award. Wembanyama, who was considered a frontrunner for the award due to his exceptional shot-blocking and rim-protecting abilities, suffered a season-ending injury that has forced him to miss the remainder of the season.
Wembanyama’s absence from the court has opened up the race for the Defensive Player of the Year award, with several other players now emerging as potential contenders. One player who has seen a significant increase in his odds is Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz. Gobert, a two-time winner of the award, is known for his elite shot-blocking and defensive prowess in the paint. With Wembanyama out of the picture, Gobert is now seen as one of the top candidates to take home the award once again.
Another player who has seen a boost in his odds is Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors. Green, a former Defensive Player of the Year winner, is known for his versatility on defense and ability to guard multiple positions. With Wembanyama sidelined, Green’s impact on the defensive end has become even more apparent, making him a strong contender for the award.
Other players who have seen their odds improve include Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks, Ben Simmons of the Brooklyn Nets, and Myles Turner of the Indiana Pacers. These players have all been standout defenders this season and are now being considered as potential candidates for the Defensive Player of the Year award.
Overall, Wembanyama’s injury has led to significant changes in the NBA Defensive Player of the Year betting odds, with several players now vying for the prestigious award. As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see how these players continue to perform on the defensive end and who ultimately emerges as the winner of the award.