NBA Defensive Player of the Year winners year by year.
The NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year Award is an annual award given since the 1982–83 NBA season to the best defensive player of the regular season.
The NBA Defensive Player of the Year winner is selected by a panel of 124 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the USA and Canada, with each casting a vote for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place selections.
Each 1st-place vote is worth 5 points, 2nd -place voted are worth 3 points, and a 3rd-place vote is worth one. The player with the highest point total wins the award (regardless of 1st Votes).
NBA Defensive Player Of The Year By Year
| Season | Player | Team |
| 2023-24 | Rudy Gobert | Utah Jazz |
| 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 | Metta World Peace | 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 |
This list of NBA Defensive Players of the Year will be updated following each winner of the NBA Defensive Player of the Year is announced.
Who has the most NBA Defensive Player of the Year Awards?
Players who have won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award more than once.
| Player | Team | DPOY Awards | Years |
| Dikembe Mutombo | Denver Nuggets, Atlanta Hawks (2), Philadelphia 76ers | 4 | 1995, 1997, 1998, 2001 |
| Ben Wallace | Detroit Pistons | 4 | 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006 |
| Rudy Gobert | Utah Jazz | 4 | 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023 |
| Dwight Howard | Orlando Magic | 3 | 2009, 2010, 2011 |
| Sidney Moncrief | Milwaukee Bucks | 2 | 1983, 1984 |
| Mark Eaton | Utah Jazz | 2 | 1985, 1989 |
| Dennis Rodman | Detroit Pistons | 2 | 1990, 1991 |
| Hakeem Olajuwon | Houston Rockets | 2 | 1993, 1994 |
| Alonzo Mourning | Miami Heat | 2 | 1999, 2000 |
| Kawhi Leonard | San Antonio Spurs | 2 | 2015, 2016 |
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