The discourse surrounding the Defensive Player of the Year is buzzing more than expected. It has been quite some time since we have seen fresh names to battle it out for the DPOY. It’s always been players like Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert, a four-time Defensive Player of the Year, and Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green in the discussions. However, it seems that only two players will be fighting for it even before the regular season starts.
Oklahoma City Thunder big man Chet Holmgren‘s odds to win DPOY this season are higher than expected. But can he actually find a way to beat the favorite for the award, San Antonio Spurs big man Victor Wembanyama, by season’s end?
Chet Holmgren DPOY Odds: Can He Beat Victor Wembanyama To The Top?
Holmgren and Wembanyama have been intertwined even before they began their rookie seasons. The budding rivalry is entertaining as it gets, and something to look forward to in the 2025-26 season. After all, the Defensive Player of the Year is a prestigious individual award, and both of those bigs want to win it.
DPOY Odds…
If not Wemby, then who? pic.twitter.com/aVvoPSNVI4
— NBA University (@NBA_University) September 30, 2025
Wembanyama, who some may feel should already have two DPOY awards to his name, is the favorite to win at -185. At the time of this writing, Holmgren has the second-highest offs at +650. In all likelihood, they’ll be the two big names to battle it out, with Houston Rockets rising star Amen Thompson tied with Green and Dallas Mavericks center Anthony Davis with the third-highest odds (+1600).
So, how does Holmgren get the edge over Wembanyama in the campaign?
Chet Coming Off Great Postseason
Despite playing only 32 games in the 2024-25 campaign, Holmgren had a blast in the postseason. Not only did he win the NBA championship, but he was an exceptional defensive performer. The former second overall pick was putting up block after block, locking up players when needed.
In all, Holmgren averaged 15.2 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per contest (23 games) in the 2025 NBA Playoffs. 23 games. At 7-foot-1, shooting 46.2% from the field may not be overly impressive but it’s worth noting 64.3% of his field goal attempts were taken outside of the restricted area. Consequently, Holmgren had a promising stat line for a player who missed more than half of the regular season due to a pelvic injury.
Chet Holmgren Game 7 vs Indiana Pacers Highlights
18 PTS
8 REB
1 STL
5 BLK
78.1% TS
Most blocks ever in a Game 7 in NBA Finals history. pic.twitter.com/LzwAMgMa1s
— 𝐙 🏆 (@homahoops) July 23, 2025
Holmgren came into the playoffs strong; his defensive finesse took time, but ultimately returned even better. When it mattered most, he even set a Game 7 NBA Finals record with five blocks. That alone speaks volumes about his defensive value to the team.
With Holmgren making noise in the DPOY and MVP (Most Valuable Player) race early in the 2024-25 season, imagine if he had played the full season at the same pace.
A Historic Rivalry Coming In Hot
Holmgren’s current DPOY odds may not be as high as Wembanyama’s but this sure ignites the rivalry between the two. These two bigs are the future of the league, no doubt. Both can shoot from afar, dominate the paint, and defend against anyone. They epitomize the new breed of centers in this floor-spacing generation of basketball.
Now, with a Christmas Day game even scheduled between the Thunder and Spurs, the match-up is bound to get even more intense.
Oct 30, 2024; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) works to steal the ball from Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren (7) after he fell to the floor during the second half at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
It’s a point to consider that Holmgren is gaining ground in the Defensive Player of the Year race to begin with. Spectators should also note that it’s expected to be a tight contest. After all, this is widely considered to be a big man’s trophy with bigs winning 18 of the last 21 DPOY awards and 33 total (out of 43).
Of course, Wembanyama will be in many conversations, Nevertheless, Holmgren will always be a shining comparison.