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Giannis Antetokounmpo is already an overwhelming favorite in the betting markets to win MVP. But that might not be the only hardware he takes home this season.
The Bucks star spearheads a group of nine Defensive Player of the Year candidates. Will Antetokounmpo add to his trophy case, or get passed up during the NBA's restart later this month?
Here's the full odds board, as well as some additional betting notes.
Odds to win DPOY
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | -290 |
| Rudy Gobert | +420 |
| Anthony Davis | +500 |
| Kawhi Leonard | +6000 |
| Ben Simmons | +10000 |
| Brook Lopez | +10000 |
| Jimmy Butler | +10000 |
| Joel Embiid | +10000 |
| Marcus Smart | +10000 |
The case for Antetokounmpo
If you thought Antetokounmpo's offensive stats were absurd, you might want to pay closer attention to his defensive numbers. Here's how he's currently faring in a handful of categories this season.
| Category | Total | NBA Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Defensive Rebounds | 653 | 1 |
| Defensive Rating | 96.3 | 1 |
| Defensive Win Shares | 4.8 | 1 |
| Defensive Box Plus/Minus | 4.1 | 1 |
The Greek Freak's almost a full victory better than the No. 2 player in defensive win shares (Anthony Davis, 4.1) and is all by himself in box plus/minus (Kris Dunn is second at 3.1).
If Antetokounmpo needs to persuade any voters, he can hand them this chart and call it a day.
Fade Rudy Gobert
Gobert has the second-best odds at +420. He's won the award in each of the last two seasons and isn't a surprise to see in the mix. While the Jazz center is a true rim-protector who can stuff the stat sheet, he's been far from dominant this season.
Gobert's averaging just two blocks per game, which would be his lowest clip since his rookie season. He's No. 9 in the NBA in defensive rating and No. 14 in defensive box plus/minus.
Gobert deserves some consideration, but I can't justify the price on a player who doesn't hold a candle to Antetokounmpo's stats.
The case for Anthony Davis
If you're looking for some value down the list, this is your best bet.
Unlike Gobert and others up for the award, Davis hasn't made his money as a defensive stalwart. In fact, he was one of the most overrated defenders last season.
But his impressive turnaround could be key in surpassing Antetokounmpo.
Davis is close to setting a new career high in defensive rating. He's second in the league behind the Greek Freak in defensive win shares and is well on his way to setting a new personal best in box plus/minus (2.8), which currently ranks No. 4 in the NBA.
If you need a flier, bet on one of the league's brightest stars playing in basketball's biggest market.
Alex Kolodziej is a betting writer for theScore. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 12 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AJKolodziej.
