NBA Defensive Player of the Year 2025-26 NBA Season: Victor Wembanyama’s Injury Woes Catch Up as Contenders Climb

The NBA Defensive Player of the Year race took an interesting turn when Victor Wembanyama suffered a calf injury on Friday. Like last season, only health issues could prevent the San Antonio Spurs center from running away with the DPOY. Wembanyama’s absence unsurprisingly allowed his pursuers to inch closer to him.

Nobody benefited more from Wembanyama’s absence than OKC Thunder guard Cason Wallace, who ranked second since last week. Wallace has made the DPOY race as he sustains his stellar play on the defensive end.

Here is how the top contenders for the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award fared after four weeks.

Explore the NBA Draft 2024 with our free NBA Mock Draft Simulator & be the GM of your favorite NBA team.

---

2025-26 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Power Rankings After Week 4

#5 Dyson Daniels

GP 3 | RPG 7.3 | SPG 3.0 | BPG 0.3

Dyson Daniels barged into the top 5 of the NBA Defensive Player of the Year power rankings last week. He dislodged Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo from the list after the big man suffered a toe injury. Daniels has strengthened his hold on his current spot even as other contenders try to overtake him.

Daniels remains one of the NBA’s most disruptive players. He leads the league with 2.4 steals per game and disruptions with 5.5 per outing. Only Daniels’ increased role on offense has arguably taken away some of his impact on defense.

---

#4. Chet Holmgren

GP 3 | RPG 8.0 | SPG 0.3 | BPG 1.7 |

Chet Holmgren plays a crucial role in the OKC Thunder defense, the most efficient in the NBA by a comfortable margin. He has become one of the league’s most imposing help defenders when he plays alongside Isaiah Hartenstein. When Hartenstein sits, he can comfortably protect or alter shots around the rim.

This season, Holmgren is averaging 2.6 stocks (steals and blocks). He will be tough to dislodge in the NBA Defensive Player of the Year top 5 if he stays healthy.

---

#3. Evan Mobley

GP 3 | RPG 8.3 | SPG 0.0 | BPG 1.7 |

Evan Mobley sat at No. 2 a week ago before Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes ran rings around him. While the reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year remains a formidable force, he has slipped a bit on defense. Whether he stays on the floor or not, the Cavs’ defensive rating is an even 110.6.

On Wednesday against the Houston Rockets, Alperen Sengun dropped 28 points and seven assists with Mobley largely guarding him.

If he doesn’t regain his NBA Defensive Player of the Year form, Chet Holmgren could overtake him.

---

T#1 Cason Wallace

GP 3| RPG 2.0 | SPG 2.3 | BPG 0.3

Victor Wembanyama’s weeklong absence has allowed Cason Wallace to tie the Spurs big man at the top of the NBA Defensive Player of the Year rankings. Wallace is second in steals (2.3 spg) and third in deflections (4.9), making him the Thunder's most stifling presence around the perimeter.

On Wednesday, he made Sacramento Kings guard Zach LaVine work hard for every shot. Wallace limited the high-flying guard to eight points in 30 minutes. Four nights before that, Charlotte rookie Kon Knueppel’s sizzling week came to a screeching halt. Wallace helped contain Knueppel to eight points in 27 minutes.

Cason Wallace will surge to the top of the DPOY rankings next week with Victor Wembanyama still out.

---

T#1 Victor Wembanyama

Victor Wembanyama steadily piled on his lead in the NBA Defensive Player of the Year race until a calf injury ended that trend. Even without playing for a week, he hasn’t been totally dislodged from the No. 1 spot.

The Spurs are erring on the side of caution because of serious injuries suffered by players after playing through calf injuries. Wemby will remain out for at least another week, ensuring he falls from his lofty place in the DPOY rankings.

Edited by Michael Macasero