NBA Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) rankings 2024-25: Top 6 candidates after Week 5 ft. Jalen Williams

As we enter the second full month of the NBA season, the league continues to see numerous defensive standouts. Plenty of young centers continue to display high-level rim protection, and even a handful of perimeter players are building cases for DPOY.

A non-center winning the award is rare, but not impossible. Some players have come along and been such strong defenders on the outside that they've taken home the hardware. It isn't a guarantee that we'll see something like that this year, but a guard or forward could end up being a finalist.

Heading into the start of December, here is an updated look at the Defensive Player of the Year power rankings.

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NBA DPOY Rankings for Week 6: 2024-25 season

5) Jalen Williams, OKC Thunder

Kicking off this week's list is a new face, Jalen Williams of the OKC Thunder. When his team was forced to go small due to injury, the third-year forward put his two-way capabilities on full display.

Williams is currently second in the league in steals per game at 2.1 a night. On top of that, he is averaging a career-high 1.0 blocks per game. Over his last five games, Williams has recorded at least three "stocks" (steals+blocks) on four occasions.

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4) Walker Kessler, Utah Jazz

Making a comeback to the DPOY ladder is Utah Jazz big man Walker Kessler. Since returning from injury, he's gotten back to being one of the NBA's top shot blockers.

Kessler is averaging just under three blocks a game currently, good for second-best in the association. Last week, he erased five shots in one night in a loss to the Dallas Mavericks.

On pace to be one of the league leaders in blocks, Kessler has a chance to sneak into the DPOY conversation.

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3) Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis Grizzlies

Remaining in the top three is a former Defensive Player of the Year, Jaren Jackson Jr. Along with putting up big scoring numbers, the Memphis Grizzlies center continues to be one of the NBA's most versatile defenders.

On the season, JJJ is averaging 1.4 steals and 1.8 blocks per game. He continues to fill up the box score defensively, most recently coming up with two steals and three blocks against the Indiana Pacers.

Jackson Jr. came out of the gates slow, but quickly reminded everyone how special of a talent he is defensively.

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2) Dyson Daniels, Atlanta Hawks

When it comes to defensive-minded players, Dyson Daniels has been one of the biggest stories in the NBA this season. While his production has slowed down some, he's still arguably the best perimeter defender at this moment in time.

Daniels is averaging over three steals a game, the highest among all players. His best outing as of late came against the Chicago Bulls when he forced them to cough up the ball four times.

It's been some time since the league has seen steal numbers this high, which is why Daniels has been a mainstay in the DPOY ladder.

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1) Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs

Remaining in the top spot is Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs. Through the first six weeks of the year, he remains the runaway favorite for DPOY.

Wembanyama is leading the NBA in blocks right now, averaging 3.5 a game. Over his last four matchups, the former No. 1 pick has come up with at least three blocks and one steal. As undoubtedly the most impactful defender in the league, it's unlikely Wembanyama ever leaves the top spot.