Bam Adebayo Passes Rudy Gobert as Favorite in Latest Defensive Player of the Year Odds
By Peter Dewey
Miami Heat big man Bam Adebayo has jumped to the top of the list in WynnBET's latest odds to win the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year award.
That's right, Rudy Gobert may not be a lock to win his fourth DPOY, as Adebayo's impressive defensive metrics have launched him ahead in the race. The Defensive Player of the Year has been an interesting battle this season, with Gobert, Adebayo and Draymond Green all missing time due to injury.
Latest Odds to Win Defensive Player of the Year
- Bam Adebayo: +110
- Rudy Gobert: +160
- Giannis Antetokounmpo: +600
- Mikal Bridges: +1200
- Robert Williams: +1200
- Jaren Jackson Jr.: +1500
- Draymond Green: +2000
- Evan Mobley: +4000
- Joel Embiid: +4000
- Jarrett Allen: +5000
- Matisse Thybulle: +7000
So why is Adebayo the favorite? It starts with his impact on the floor. He has a defensive box plus/minus of 2.3 and has accumulated 3.1 defensive win shares this season. In comparison, Gobert has just a 1.9 defensive box plus/minus.
Miami has the No. 5 defensive rating in the NBA this season at 107.5, but that jumps to 110.2 in the games that Adebayo has missed this season.
I wouldn't claim this race over for Adebayo, but if Miami finishes with the No. 1 seed in the East and a top-five defense, it's going to be hard to look the other way when Utah is currently ninth in the league in defensive rating.
Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record in the NBA this season here.