NBA Defensive Player of the Year odds: Draymond favored after Dubs' hot start

It's been five years since Draymond Green won his first and only NBA Defensive Player of the Year award. If he keeps up his current pace, he'll add to his trophy case once again.

The Warriors' do-it-all big has been the centerpiece of the NBA's best defense through the season's first 25 games. He's averaging 1.4 steals, one block, and 6.8 defensive rebounds per game, making him the only player to hit all three marks this season. Oddsmakers have priced him as the early favorite (+140) due to his versatile play, ahead of the three-time winner and reigning victor Rudy Gobert (+200).

Green entered the year as a 33-1 long shot. However, thanks to his defensive pedigree and integral role in Golden State's defense, he was one of our favorite preseason values. Since then, he's far surpassed even our highest expectations: He leads the NBA in defensive win shares (1.8) and ranks second in defensive box plus-minus (4.3).

More importantly, he's been a major catalyst for the Warriors' league-leading 21-4 start. Golden State is allowing a mere 99.5 points per 100 possessions - by far the fewest in the NBA - and the team currently boasts the best relative defensive rating in franchise history. Yes, it's even better than the dynastic Warriors of the mid-2010s.

This group doesn't show any signs of slowing, either. Golden State has allowed fewer than 105 points in 11 of its last 12 games and has held 12 of its 25 opponents this season below the century mark. Green's fingerprints have been all over this defense - he ranks sixth in individual defensive rating (100.1) among starters with 10-plus appearances despite regularly guarding all five positions.

If anybody's going to threaten his perch atop the oddsboard, it'll be Gobert, who ranks second in defensive win shares (1.7) and is tied for second in blocks per game (2.2). The Jazz are uncharacteristically ranked outside of the top five in points allowed per possession, though, which hinders his case as the NBA's most valuable defender.

Green's early front-runner status will be put to the test this week with potential matchups against Joel Embiid, Domantas Sabonis, and Julius Randle - three of the NBA's best low-post scorers. If he survives that stretch, he'll further cement his case as the league's top defensive anchor for the second time in six seasons.

C Jackson Cowart is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on Twitter (@CJacksonCowart) or email him at [email protected].