NBA Defensive Player of the Year winners
26 qualifying answers in this snapshot. Examples: Michael Jordan, Kevin Garnett, Hakeem Olajuwon.
Data reviewed: · Data through 2025
Exact qualifying conditions
Name a player who won NBA Defensive Player of the Year (1947–2025)
NBA/BAA regular-season snapshot; seasons use ending years. Through 2025. All listed conditions must hold. Fixed site-authored points.
This is a list of distinct award recipients within the stated years, not a year-by-year winners table. Receiving votes alone does not qualify.
Points belong to this site's question, not real player popularity or the original game's daily scores. Consulting these lists can reveal answers to our daily challenge.
100-point answers explained
1986: received NBA Defensive Player of the Year.
Complete answer list (26)
26 / 26
| Answer | Points | Tier |
|---|---|---|
| Alvin Robertson1986: received NBA Defensive Player of the Year. | 100 | Buzzer Beater |
| Evan Mobley | 60 | Deep Bench |
| Marcus Camby | 60 | Deep Bench |
| Marcus Smart | 60 | Deep Bench |
| Mark Eaton | 60 | Deep Bench |
| Ben Wallace | 30 | Rotation |
| Dennis Rodman | 30 | Rotation |
| Draymond Green | 30 | Rotation |
| Jaren Jackson Jr. | 30 | Rotation |
| Joakim Noah | 30 | Rotation |
| Kawhi Leonard | 30 | Rotation |
| Marc Gasol | 30 | Rotation |
| Metta World Peace | 30 | Rotation |
| Michael Cooper | 30 | Rotation |
| Rudy Gobert | 30 | Rotation |
| Sidney Moncrief | 30 | Rotation |
| Tyson Chandler | 30 | Rotation |
| Alonzo Mourning | 10 | Layup |
| David Robinson | 10 | Layup |
| Dikembe Mutombo | 10 | Layup |
| Dwight Howard | 10 | Layup |
| Gary Payton | 10 | Layup |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | 10 | Layup |
| Hakeem Olajuwon | 10 | Layup |
| Kevin Garnett | 10 | Layup |
| Michael Jordan | 10 | Layup |
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