There are certain things in life that you never really appreciate until they aren't there anymore. The internet wasn't always there to answer life's burning questions, and without electricity, our smartphones would be nothing more than expensive paperweights. Similarly, most fans don't fully appreciate defense because offense is so easy to quantify. A guy who scores 30 points a game has to be good, but what about the one who takes points off the board by doing the little things? It's time to show some appreciation for the not-so-glamorous work. In an effort to right a wrong that is far too common among us, we're checking out the odds at BetMGM for NBA Defensive Player of the Year, a futures market that should see plenty of fluctuations from now until the regular season ends in April.
BetMGM, an authorized gaming partner of the NBA, provides some of the most competitive odds on the 2024 MVP. Unlike some futures markets where bettors have to get their bets in before the season begins, BetMGM's NBA DPOY odds markets are available all season long.
One of the main things about DPOY is that the board is always fairly top-heavy. As usual, we see some familiar faces at the top of this year's race, notably early-favorite Rudy Gobert, who has won the award three times in the past six years.
Perhaps more than any other trophy the NBA has to offer, DPOY best represents the game itself in being an award of runs. Throughout history, there's almost always been one player that's dominated for a certain stretch. The 1990s were defined by Dennis Rodman, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Dikembe Mutombo. The 2000s and '10s saw Ben Wallace, Dwight Howard, Kawhi Leonard, and Gobert. Bottom line, it's not often that a long shot can catapult into contention, leaving us watching the top of the board.
At the end of the day though, even the most slam dunk pick can still fall short if injuries, trades, slumps, or plenty of other factors creep into the conversation. With that in mind, please remember to play responsibly. There's a lot that can change between October and April.
Who do you think will ultimately claim the Hakeem Olajuwon Trophy? Here's what the odds look like via BetMGM.
2024 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Odds
All odds courtesy of BetMGM, an authorized partner of the NBA
| Player | Odds |
| Rudy Gobert | +200 |
| Anthony Davis | +550 |
| Evan Mobley | +950 |
| Jaren Jackson Jr. | +1500 |
| Bam Adebayo | +1500 |
| Brook Lopez | +1500 |
| Chet Holmgren | +1800 |
| Jrue Holiday | +2000 |
| Victor Wembanyama | +2000 |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | +2200 |
| Joel Embiid | +2500 |
| OG Anunoby | +2500 |
| Kristaps Porzingis | +3000 |
| Mitchell Robinson | +3500 |
| Herbert Jones | +3500 |
| Draymond Green | +4000 |
| Jaden McDaniels | +5000 |
| Walker Kessler | +8000 |
| Alex Caruso | +10000 |
| Mikal Bridges | +12500 |
| Luguentz Dort | +15000 |
| Jarrett Allen | +15000 |
| Myles Turner | +15000 |
| Jimmy Butler | +15000 |
| Naz Reid | +15000 |
| Onyeka Okongwu | +15000 |
| Kawhi Leonard | +15000 |
| Dejounte Murray | +15000 |
| Anthony Edwards | +15000 |
| Aaron Gordon | +15000 |
| Jakob Poeltl | +15000 |
| Deandre Ayton | +15000 |
| Ben Simmons | +15000 |
| Jayson Tatum | +15000 |
| Clint Capela | +15000 |
| Jaylen Brown | +15000 |
| Derrick White | +15000 |
| Paul George | +15000 |
| Dillon Brooks | +15000 |
| Nikola Jokic | +15000 |
| Kentavious Caldwell-Pope | +15000 |
| Ausar Thompson | +15000 |
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | +15000 |
| Kevin Durant | +20000 |
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