NBA Defensive Player of the Year winners
Victor Wembanyama was the 2025-26 NBA Defensive Player of the Year. Rudy Gobert has won it more than anyone, 4 times, out of 44 seasons on record since 1982-83.
Every NBA Defensive Player of the Year winner by season
| Season | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2025-26 | Victor Wembanyama · San Antonio Spurs |
| 2024-25 | Evan Mobley · Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 2023-24 | Rudy Gobert · Minnesota Timberwolves |
| 2022-23 | Jaren Jackson Jr. · Memphis Grizzlies |
| 2021-22 | Marcus Smart · Boston Celtics |
| 2020-21 | Rudy Gobert · Utah Jazz |
| 2019-20 | Giannis Antetokounmpo · Milwaukee Bucks |
| 2018-19 | Rudy Gobert · Utah Jazz |
| 2017-18 | Rudy Gobert · Utah Jazz |
| 2016-17 | Draymond Green · Golden State Warriors |
| 2015-16 | Kawhi Leonard · San Antonio Spurs |
| 2014-15 | Kawhi Leonard · San Antonio Spurs |
| 2013-14 | Joakim Noah · Chicago Bulls |
| 2012-13 | Marc Gasol · Memphis Grizzlies |
| 2011-12 | Tyson Chandler · New York Knicks |
| 2010-11 | Dwight Howard · Orlando Magic |
| 2009-10 | Dwight Howard · Orlando Magic |
| 2008-09 | Dwight Howard · Orlando Magic |
| 2007-08 | Kevin Garnett · Boston Celtics |
| 2006-07 | Marcus Camby · Denver Nuggets |
| 2005-06 | Ben Wallace · Detroit Pistons |
| 2004-05 | Ben Wallace · Detroit Pistons |
| 2003-04 | Ron Artest · Indiana Pacers |
| 2002-03 | Ben Wallace · Detroit Pistons |
| 2001-02 | Ben Wallace · Detroit Pistons |
| 2000-01 | Dikembe Mutombo · Philadelphia 76ers |
| 1999-00 | Alonzo Mourning · Miami Heat |
| 1998-99 | Alonzo Mourning · Miami Heat |
| 1997-98 | Dikembe Mutombo · Atlanta Hawks |
| 1996-97 | Dikembe Mutombo · Atlanta Hawks |
| 1995-96 | Gary Payton · Seattle SuperSonics |
| 1994-95 | Dikembe Mutombo · Denver Nuggets |
| 1993-94 | Hakeem Olajuwon · Houston Rockets |
| 1992-93 | Hakeem Olajuwon · Houston Rockets |
| 1991-92 | David Robinson · San Antonio Spurs |
| 1990-91 | Dennis Rodman · Detroit Pistons |
| 1989-90 | Dennis Rodman · Detroit Pistons |
| 1988-89 | Mark Eaton · Utah Jazz |
| 1987-88 | Michael Jordan · Chicago Bulls |
| 1986-87 | Michael Cooper · Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1985-86 | Alvin Robertson · San Antonio Spurs |
| 1984-85 | Mark Eaton · Utah Jazz |
| 1983-84 | Sidney Moncrief · Milwaukee Bucks |
| 1982-83 | Sidney Moncrief · Milwaukee Bucks |
Winners from Wikipedia's list of NBA Defensive Player of the Year winners. A name links to the player's page when the player is on file.