Victor Wembanyama is back at the top of the 2025-26 NBA Defensive Player of the Year race. The Frenchman surged into pole position again following another impressive stretch on the defensive end. He overtook the OKC Thunder duo of Chet Holmgren and Cason Wallace to take the lead once more.
While the top 4 have been fixtures in the DPOY ladder, a new name has joined the list. Detroit Pistons defensive ace Ausar Thompson replaces twin Amen Thompson in the list.
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Here’s how the best defenders stacked against each other in the latest NBA Defensive Player of the Year rankings.
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2025-26 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Power Rankings after Week 9
#5. Ausar Thompson
Season stats: 6.0 RPG | 1.5 SPG | 0.7 BPG
The Pistons have the second-best defense in the NBA, thanks in large part to Ausar Thompson. He is right there with the Atlanta Hawks’ Dyson Daniels as among the most disruptive defenders. Detroit relies on Thompson to hound the opposing team’s best guards and wings.
Thompson averages 4.5 deflections per game, tied for fifth-best in the NBA. The 6-foot-7 guard forces opponents to shoot 36.1%, a figure well below the league average of 47.0%. He deserves the No. 5 spot in the NBA Defensive Player of the Year power rankings.
#4. Dyson Daniels
Season stats: 6.4 RPG | 2.0 SPG | 0.4 BPG
Dyson Daniels took a step back in the NBA Defensive Player of the Year race following Victor Wembanyama’s surge. Daniels is third in deflections per game with 4.8 and his 144 total deflections are second. The rangy guard averages 2.0 steals per contest, also second in the league.
The Australian, however, is dealing with a hip injury, which could impact his stay in the top 5. If he misses more games, a new name could replace his spot in the rankings.
#3. Chet Holmgren
Season stats: 7.6 RPG | 0.6 SPG | 1.4 BPG
Chet Holmgren played three games last week, a stretch where the OKC Thunder failed to register a win. Holmgren struggled on defense in back-to-back losses to the San Antonio Spurs. The 7-foot-1 center, usually an excellent rim protector, had trouble stopping the Spurs’ interior attacks.
Holmgren, though, remains firmly in the top 3 of the NBA Defensive Player of the Year rankings. His 1.4 blocks per game are second in the league. The Thunder defense is still the most efficient, partly due to Holmgren’s presence in the middle.
#2. Cason Wallace
Season stats: 2.9 RPG | 2.3 SPG | 0.2 BPG
Like Holmgren, Cason Wallace had a rough week in back-to-back losses to the Spurs. He had trouble containing De’Aaron Fox on Thursday when the cat-quick Spurs guard dropped 29 points on 12-for-19 shooting. Wallace also struggled against the physical and ultra-athletic Stephon Castle.
Wallace remains the league leader in steals with 2.3 spg. He is second in deflections per outing with 4.9 and third in total deflections with 141. Wallace deserves the No. 2 spot in the NBA Defensive Player of the Year rankings.
#1. Victor Wembanyama
Season stats: 11.8 RPG | 0.9 SPG | 3.1 BPG
Victor Wembanyama failed to record a block on Tuesday, the first time in 100 games he could not tally a rejection. Even without a swat, the 7-foot-4 center’s impact on defense, particularly in those games against the Thunder, was undeniable.
OKC, a team that loves to riddle opponents with paint attacks, often settled for jump shots with Wembanyama in the paint. Sometimes, the Thunder would force him to switch on a shooter to keep him from clogging the interior.
Still, no player has his length, recovery and timing on the defensive end. Wemby is second in the league with 54 blocks in 18 games. With him on the floor, San Antonio owns a 101.7 defensive rating, the best in the NBA. Without him, the figure spikes to 115.9 DRTG, good for No. 20.
If he stays healthy, Victor Wembanyama likely marches to an NBA Defensive Player of the Year award by season’s end.
Edited by Michael Macasero
