Rudy Gobert has won the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year three times (2018, ‘19, ’21) and, based on the odds, he might be on his way to claiming the trophy a fourth time.
The Minnesota Timberwolves center’s odds to win the award opened this season at +1800. At the end of the calendar year, he was sitting at -115.
Now, with about a month left to play in the regular season, those odds have shortened all the way to -900.
Averaging 12.9 rebounds per game — which is good for second in the league — Gobert’s 7-foot-1 presence in the paint has been a big part of Minnesota’s success.
Can anyone catch the three-time All-Star and six-time first team All-Defensive Team selection in the DPOY race?
Let’s take a look at the odds.
NBA Defensive Player of the Year Odds*
Rudy Gobert, Timberwolves: -900 (bet $10 to win $11.11 total)
Victor Wembanyama, Spurs: +1000 (bet $10 to win $110 total)
Jarrett Allen, Cavaliers: +2900 (bet $10 to win $300 total)
Bam Adebayo, Heat: +4000 (bet $10 to win $410 total)
Anthony Davis, Lakers: +5500 (bet $10 to win $560 total)
Derrick White, Celtics: +11000 (bet $10 to win $1,110 total)
Chet Holmgren, Thunder: +11000 (bet $10 to win $1,110 total)
Jaden McDaniels, Timberwolves: +21000 (bet $10 to win $2,110 total)
*odds as of 3/15/2024
If there is one player who could give Gobert a run for his money in the DPOY race, it’s San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyanma.
The NBA’s favorite for Rookie of the Year is averaging 10.3 boards and 3.4 blocks per contest
Toward the end of December, Wemby’s odds were as long as +7500 at some books, and in February, he was still sitting at +2000 or longer.
Now, midway through March, his odds to win the award are +1000.
According to Tom Orsborn of the San Antonio Express-News, the 7-foot-4 Spurs center said the following regarding the Defensive Player of the Year award:
“I know that Rudy (Gobert) has a very good chance of winning it this year, and it would be deserved. Let him win it now because after that it’s no longer his turn.”
Who are you backing to win the Defensive Player of the Year? Follow FOX Sports for the latest in news on the NBA and other sports.
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