NBA Awards
NBA Defensive Player of the Year
Introduced in 1982–83 to recognize the league's best defender. Since 2022–23 the trophy has carried the name of Hakeem Olajuwon, who won it twice.
| Season | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2025–26 | Victor Wembanyama |
| 2024–25 | Evan Mobley |
| 2023–24 | Rudy Gobert |
| 2022–23 | Jaren Jackson Jr. |
| 2021–22 | Marcus Smart |
| 2020–21 | Rudy Gobert |
| 2019–20 | Giannis Antetokounmpo |
| 2018–19 | Rudy Gobert |
| 2017–18 | Rudy Gobert |
| 2016–17 | Draymond Green |
| 2015–16 | Kawhi Leonard |
| 2014–15 | Kawhi Leonard |
| 2013–14 | Joakim Noah |
| 2012–13 | Marc Gasol |
| 2011–12 | Tyson Chandler |
| 2010–11 | Dwight Howard |
| 2009–10 | Dwight Howard |
| 2008–09 | Dwight Howard |
| 2007–08 | Kevin Garnett |
| 2006–07 | Marcus Camby |
| 2005–06 | Ben Wallace |
| 2004–05 | Ben Wallace |
| 2003–04 | Metta Sandiford-Artest |
| 2002–03 | Ben Wallace |
| 2001–02 | Ben Wallace |
| 2000–01 | Dikembe Mutombo |
| 1999–00 | Alonzo Mourning |
| 1998–99 | Alonzo Mourning |
| 1997–98 | Dikembe Mutombo |
| 1996–97 | Dikembe Mutombo |
| 1995–96 | Gary Payton |
| 1994–95 | Dikembe Mutombo |
| 1993–94 | Hakeem Olajuwon |
| 1992–93 | Hakeem Olajuwon |
| 1991–92 | David Robinson |
| 1990–91 | Dennis Rodman |
| 1989–90 | Dennis Rodman |
| 1988–89 | Mark Eaton |
| 1987–88 | Michael Jordan |
| 1986–87 | Michael Cooper |
| 1985–86 | Alvin Robertson |
| 1984–85 | Mark Eaton |
| 1983–84 | Sidney Moncrief |
| 1982–83 | Sidney Moncrief |