“Defense wins championships” is something the old-school loves to say but the last time a Defensive Player of the Year was on a title team was Draymond Green on 2016-17 Golden State Warriors.

Defensive Player Of The Year - Winner Betting Odds. Get the best available NBA odds from all online bookmakers with Oddschecker, the home of betting value. NBA Defensive Player of the Year Odds for the 2020-2021 regular season, focusing on the best defensive players at US legal online sportsbooks. Vegas Insider provides all the available future odds for NBA Players to win the 2020-21 MVP award.

The reigning champion Los Angeles Lakers start their title defense with a DPOY-candidate in F Anthony Davis. He’s chasing Milwaukee Bucks F Giannis Antetokounmpo (+450) for the DPOY crown.

The 2020-21 NBA season tips off Tuesday and now is the time to start shopping the future markets. Below, we’ll make our picks and predictions for the NBA’s 2020-21 Defensive Player of the Year based on the betting odds at BetMGM.

Also see:

Bank on these MVP futures betsBest bets and predictions for 2020-21 NBA champion

2020-21 NBA Defensive Player of the Year: Betting odds, picks and predictions

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Monday at 3 p.m. ET.

Favorite: Milwaukee Bucks F Giannis Antetokounmpo (+450)

How Giannis is not No. 1 by the betting odds is pretty surprising. There have been more back-to-back DPOYs since they started giving out the award in 1982-83 than not. Ten players have been named DPOY in consecutive seasons.

It started with Bucks G Sidney Moncrief winning the first two and the list of consecutive winners since includes Dennis Rodman, Hakeem Olajuwon, Dikembe Mutombo, Alonzo Mourning, Ben Wallace (back-to-back on two different occasions), Dwight Howard (three straight), Kawhi Leonard and Rudy Gobert.

Most importantly, Giannis led the NBA last season in defensive win shares, defensive box plus-minus, was second in rebounds per game and there’s no real regression expected. The dude is at peak athleticism and has virtually no injury history. At +450, Giannis becoming the 11th NBA player in history to win Defensive Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons is my personal favorite bet.

Get some action on NBA futures with a legal, online bet atBetMGM in CO, IN, NJ, PA, TN and WV. Risk-free first bet up to $500, paid in free bets. Terms and conditions apply. Bet now!

Contender: Los Angeles Clippers F Kawhi Leonard (+2000)

Have we forgotten how dominant The Claw can be on the defensive end of the floor? Well, let me remind of you the resume: Back-to-back DPOY trophies (2014-15 and 2015-16) and six-time All-Defensive Team, including three consecutive first-team All-Defense from 2014-15 to 2016-17.

Plus, the embarrassment of having a longer-than-expected rest (aka getting bounced in the second round of the Western Conference playoffs) could motivate Kawhi to put in his all-time best season. Leonard is still just 29 years old and if the Clippers finish in the top-2 of the Western Conference, he’ll be in the conversation for a couple of awards. The value on the two-time DPOY winner to claim the award again in 2020-21 is too good to overlook.

Long shot: Golden State Warriors F Draymond Green (+5000)

BetMGM has some crazy names on the board for DPOY so it might be a little disrespectful to list the 2016-17 NBA Defensive Player of the Year as a long shot, but this is the furthest down the list I’d go for a bet.

The 2019-20 season was a bit of a down year for Green, individually and for his squad. You have to think the Warriors are due for a bounce-back season, right? PG Steph Curry looks good in preseason and if the Warriors make it back to the playoffs—which it would be very disappointing if they didn’t—then Green should be the defensive anchor.

The Warriors have a lot of length in their starting lineup and if they can pivot to be a little more defensive-oriented, and if he takes No. 2 overall pick C James Wiseman under his wing, then Draymond stands to get the most praise on that team.

Want some action on NBA futures? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.

Nfl Defensive Player Of The Year Candidates

Also see:

Draymond Green (foot) doubtful for season opener vs. Nets (Warriors Wire)NBA execs on what Giannis extension means for trades, free agency (Hoops Hype)

Follow Geoff Clark on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

Nfl Defensive Player Of The Year Odds

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.