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Stats Hub / Award Races / Defensive Player of the Year
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NBA Defensive Player of the Year Race

Week 1
Nov 2, 2026
Victor Wembanyama
Front-runner
Victor Wembanyama
San Antonio Spurs logoSan Antonio Spurs
5.3
Steals + blocks per game
28.0 PTS · 10.7 REB · 3.0 AST
VS
Walker Kessler
The chaser
Walker Kessler
Los Angeles Lakers logoLos Angeles Lakers
3.9
Steals + blocks per game
14.3 PTS · 9.9 REB · 1.1 AST

Victor Wembanyama leads at 5.3 steals + blocks per game — 1.5 clear of Walker Kessler. The field behind them is set by the same numbers, every week.

The Field

Top 6 by the numbers. Tap Compare on any row to load the race into the Compare hub. Opening week — there is no last week yet, so movement starts accruing with next Monday's edition.

RK
Move
Player · Team
STL
BLK
REB
MIN
Score
1
—
Victor Wembanyama
Victor WembanyamaF · 6 games
San Antonio SpursSA
1.2
4.2
10.7
32.5
5.3
Compare
2
—
Walker Kessler
Walker KesslerC · 7 games
Los Angeles LakersLAL
1.0
2.9
9.9
30.6
3.9
Compare
3
—
Cooper Flagg
Cooper FlaggF · 5 games
Dallas MavericksDAL
2.6
1.2
6.0
32.4
3.8
Compare
4
—
Zion Williamson
Zion WilliamsonF · 6 games
New Orleans PelicansNO
3.2
0.5
4.3
31.8
3.7
Compare
5
—
Kris Dunn
Kris DunnG · 6 games
LA ClippersLAC
3.0
0.7
4.0
29.8
3.7
Compare
6
—
Zaccharie Risacher
Zaccharie RisacherF · 6 games
Dallas MavericksDAL
2.0
1.7
6.2
29.7
3.7
Compare

How this race is ranked

Ranked by stocks per game — steals + blocks, the Stats Hub's own defensive line. Minimum 4 games and 20 minutes a night. No betting odds, no outside power rankings — the order comes from the Stats Hub's own verified season numbers, refreshed every Monday. Opening week — there is no last week yet, so movement starts accruing with next Monday's edition.

Other racesMVPRookie of the YearSixth Man