NBA Defensive Player of the Year 2025-26 Season: How Close Is Cason Wallace as a Threat to Victor Wembanyama?

San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama sits at the top of the NBA Defensive Player of the Year rankings for the third straight week. The eye test, traditional stats and advanced metrics all back up his impact as the league’s best and arguably most versatile defender. Wembanyama’s pursuers will find it tough to unseat him as long as he remains healthy.

While Wemby is the clear DPOY favorite, Cason Wallace is turning heads with his stellar defensive play. The 6-foot-4 guard could at least make the race for the DPOY award a little more exciting. On an OKC Thunder team stacked with solid to great defenders, Wallace is standing out.

After another week, here is where the contenders for the NBA Defensive Player Year award stack.

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2025-26 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Power Rankings After Week 2

#5. Dyson Daniels

GP 5 | RPG 5.4 | SPG 1.8 | BPG 0.4

One of the NBA’s most disruptive defenders debuts in the top 5 of the NBA Defensive Player of the Year list. Dyson Daniels had a busy week stifling opponents. After a somewhat slow start, he is back to his ball-hounding best.

NBA analyst Steph Noh tweeted that Daniels is the second-best in the NBA in total steals and disruptions. Last year, he was head and shoulders above everyone in both metrics. It might not be long before he surges to the top.

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#4. Chet Holmgren

GP 4 | RPG 7.0 | SPG 0.3 | BPG 1.0

While Cason Wallace hounds perimeter players, Chet Holmgren protects the paint and the rim. During one stretch early in the first quarter on Tuesday against the Golden State Warriors, Holmgren gave an example of his versatility and impact on defense.

Holmgren chased down Brandin Podziemski, who was forced to give up his fastbreak attack. After slowing down the offense, Podziemski found Steph Curry for a backdoor cut that was denied by the 7-footer. Two plays later, Jonathan Kuminga, who tried to overpower him, fell while changing his shot mid-air to avoid Holmgren’s long arms.

If he stays healthy, Chet Holmgren could move up in the NBA Defensive Player of the Year ladder.

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#3. Evan Mobley

GP 4 | RPG 9.3 | SPG .5 |BPG .8

The reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year had a good week until he ran into Scottie Barnes on Thursday. In a highly anticipated clash between two versatile forwards, the Toronto Raptors star decisively won the battle. Barnes finished with 28 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists and five blocks. He had Evan Mobley’s number all night long.

Mobley’s showing and Cason Wallace’s surge drop the 7-footer into No. 3 of the DPOY list.

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#2. Cason Wallace

GP 4 | RPG 1.8 | SPG 1.3| BPG 0.3

Cason Wallace has made the biggest leap in the latest NBA Defensive Player of the Year race. From No. 4 after opening week, he is now firmly entrenched at No. 2.

In a brutal stretch that saw the Thunder face the Memphis Grizzlies, Golden State Warriors and LA Lakers, Wallace made his case for DPOY recognition. As the primary defender of Ja Morant, Steph Curry and Luka Doncic, he held them to 14-for-51 (27.4%) shooting.

Wallace can fight through screens to stay on any point guard. He is also big and strong enough to prevent Doncic and other forwards from playing bully ball. Wallace arguably doesn’t have the same impact on defense as Wemby, but he is making the NBA Defensive Player of the Year race more interesting.

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#1. Victor Wembanyama

GP 4| RPG 13.3| SPG 0.8 | BPG 2.8

There is one sequence against the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday that highlighted Victor Wembanyama’s impact and versatility on defense. The 7-foot-5 center chased Steph Curry around before toggling on to a cutting Draymond Green. To cap it off, he left Green near the keyhole to force Gary Payton II to miss a layup.

Wembanyama continues to make plays that make him still the strongest contender to bag the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award.

Edited by Michael Macasero