NBA Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) Rankings 2024-25: Top 5 candidates after Week 1 ft. Chet Holmgren

Through the first week of the NBA season, countless players have gotten off to a strong start. A handful of players have performed so well that they're emerging as way-too-early candidates for a seasonal award.

Heading into the 2024-25 campaign, Defensive Player of the Year is an award that going through a changing of the guard. Rudy Gobert has taken home this accolade four times since 2019, but that trend might be starting to change. In recent years, numerous new faces have emerged as high-level defensive talents.

With the first week of games in the books now, here is a look at the first DPOY ladder for this season.

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NBA Defensive Player of the Year Rankings: Week 1

5) Chet Holmgren, OKC Thunder

Part of the reason why the OKC Thunder drafted Chet Holmgren No. 2 overall in 2022 is because of his defensive prowess. After a strong rookie campaign last season, he has continued to elevate his game on the defensive end.

Holmgren continues to be the anchor for the Thunder defense and is thriving in his role. He's grabbed double-digit rebounds in two of his first three games, along with protecting the rim at an elite level. Holmgren blocked four shots in OKC's opening night matchup against the Nuggets and erased six shots over the weekend against the Hawks.

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4) Derrick White, Boston Celtics

With the Boston Celtics expected to have one of the NBA's top defenses again, one of their players was bound to show up on this list. Fresh off making an All-Defense team last year, Derrick White continues to be one of the league's top perimeter defenders.

White continues to be a driving force for the Celtics on defense, taking on big matchups like Jalen Brunson and Cade Cunningham to start the year. The veteran guard also displayed his shot block abilities against the Pistons, collecting three blocks against the Pistons Saturday.

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3) Jalen Suggs, Orlando Magic

Since entering the NBA, Jalen Suggs has completely changed his game to be an impactful player. Originally known for his offense, the young guard has morphed into a high-level perimeter defender.

Suggs has become a defensive stopper for the Magic, making him a key piece to their core. It's rare for a guard to take home DPOY, but if he continues to defend at an elite level on the outside, he could garner consideration.

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2) Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers

When the Cleveland Cavaliers took Evan Mobley No. 3 overall in the NBA draft, it was with the goal of developing him into an elite defensive talent. He's already shown he can be impactful on that end, but this year could be a breakout season for him.

Playing alongside Jarrett Allen in the frontcourt allows Mobley to roam more, and he is making the most of it. The Cavs forward has blocked at least two shots in every game this season thus far and racked up four steals in a matchup against the Pistons on Friday.

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1) Anthony Davis, LA Lakers

When JJ Redick took over as head coach of the LA Lakers, unlocking Anthony Davis was something he talked about a lot. Not only is the All-Star center putting up big numbers, but he's showing why he's always in the conversation for the league's best defender.

Through the first week of the season, Davis has been one of the top performers in the NBA. Along with leading the charge in the scoring department, he is anchoring the Lakers' defense at a very high level. Davis is averaging over two blocks a game through week one and is coming off a three-steal performance against the Kings.

Even though it's extremely early in the season, AD has emerged as the early frontrunner for DPOY.