NBA Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) rankings 2024-25: Top 5 candidates after week 10 ft. Myles Turner 

NBA: Cleveland Cavaliers at Indiana Pacers - Source: Imagn
NBA Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) rankings 2024-25 (Photo Credit: Imagn)

In the modern NBA, offense is the side of the floor that gets discussed the most. However, the league is littered with talent that shines on the defensive end as well.

Defensive Player of the Year isn't an award that gets discussed as much as the other yearly accolades, but is still a prestigious honor nonetheless. As we approach the halfway point in the regular season, it continues to look like a runaway race.

In terms of overall teams, the OKC Thunder have the NBA's best defense with a defensive rating of 102.9. Other teams in the top five include the Orlando Magic, Houston Rockets and Minnesota Timberwolves.

In regards to individual standouts in this facet of the game, here is the latest edition of Sportskeeda's DPOY power rankings.

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NBA DPOY power rankings after week 11: 2024-25 season:

5) Myles Turner, Indiana Pacers

While he's never been named to an All-Defense team, Myles Turner has always been widely regarded as one of the better defensive centers in the league. Now in the prime of his career, he is still an impactful anchor for the Indiana Pacers' defense.

On the season, Turner is fourth in blocks per game at 2.0. He's been protecting the rim at a high rate as of late, rattling off three straight games with at least three blocks.


4) Anthony Davis, LA Lakers

Already with five All-Defense nominations on his resumé, Anthony Davis is well on his way to another this season. If he continues his high-level defensive work, the LA Lakers star could end up a finalist for DPOY.

AD is currently top three in the NBA in blocks per game, just barely ahead of Turner. He's recorded at least two blocks in each of his last five games, including a five-block outing against the Houston Rockets.


3) Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis Grizzlies

Finding himself back in the top three of the DPOY rankings is Memphis Grizzlies big man Jaren Jackson Jr. After coming out of the gates slow, the former All-Star has reminded everyone why he's already taken home this award once before.

JJJ is one of the league's top big men when it comes to "stocks" (steals + blocks), filling the stat sheet on a nightly basis. He is fresh off one of his more impressive showings, racking up six blocks and two steals in a nail-biting loss to the Houston Rockets.


2) Dyson Daniels, Atlanta Hawks

Firmly planted in the No. 2 spot is the lone perimeter player on this week's rankings, Dyson Daniels of the Atlanta Hawks. He's fighting an uphill battle but has a chance to join the exclusive list of non-centers to win DPOY.

Daniels continues to put up unseen steals numbers, leading the NBA averaging over three a night. The Hawks guard has 16 steals over his last five outings, including a five-steal performance against the LA Lakers.


1) Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs

Even though we're not even at the halfway point of the season yet, not much more can be said about Victor Wembanyama in terms of DPOY. Barring an injury where he's forced to miss extended time, the San Antonio Spurs big man is the runaway favorite.

Wembanyama is on pace to lead the NBA in blocks for a second straight season, averaging just shy of four a game. He put together one of his best shot-blocking outings against the Chicago Bulls last week with eight blocks.

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Edited by Kevin McCormick
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