NBA Defensive Players of The Year That Never Won a Title
This is the complete list of NBA players that won the Defensive Player of The Year award at least once but didn't win a championship during their careers.
Players without titles: Defensive Players of The Year / others...
others...
Season MVPs / Defensive Players of The Year / Rookies of The Year /
Scoring Leaders / Rebounds Leaders / Assists Leaders / Steals Leaders / Blocks Leaders /
All-NBA 1st Team Players / All-Defensive 1st Team Players
Season MVPs / Defensive Players of The Year / Rookies of The Year /
Scoring Leaders / Rebounds Leaders / Assists Leaders / Steals Leaders / Blocks Leaders /
All-NBA 1st Team Players / All-Defensive 1st Team Players
Of the 26 players that have ever won the Defensive Player of The Year award, 10 never won an NBA title during their careers (38.5%). Some of them are current players and still have a chance to do it. The other 16 players won at least one ring. This award has been given 43 times since it was established in 1983.
Among those who never won a championship, Dikembe Mutombo and Rudy Gobert are the players who won the most Defensive Player of The Year awards.
NBA Defensive Players of The Year That Never Won a Title
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Player |
Defensive Player of The Year |
Total Seasons |
Playoffs | Playoff Games |
| Dikembe Mutombo | 4 times |
18 1992 to 2009 |
13 | 101 |
| Rudy Gobert | 4 times |
13 2014 to 2026 |
9 | 84 |
| Sidney Moncrief | 2 times |
11 1980 to 1991 |
11 | 93 |
| Mark Eaton | 2 times |
11 1983 to 1993 |
10 | 74 |
| Marcus Camby | 1 time |
17 1997 to 2013 |
11 | 79 |
| Joakim Noah | 1 time |
13 2008 to 2020 |
8 | 62 |
| Marcus Smart | 1 time |
12 2015 to 2026 |
9 | 108 |
| Alvin Robertson | 1 time |
10 1985 to 1996 |
4 | 13 |
| Jaren Jackson Jr. | 1 time |
8 2019 to 2026 |
4 | 27 |
| Evan Mobley | 1 time |
5 2022 to 2026 |
3 | 25 |
Playoff performance in their Defensive Player of The Year seasons:
| Defensive Player of The Year | ||
| Dikembe Mutombo | 4 times | |
|
1995 - Nuggets, Lost West Conf 1st Rd
1997 - Hawks, Lost East Conf Semis 1998 - Hawks, Lost East Conf 1st Rd 2001 - 76ers, Lost NBA Finals | ||
| Defensive Player of The Year | ||
| Rudy Gobert | 4 times | |
|
2018 - Jazz, Lost West Conf Semis
2019 - Jazz, Lost West Conf 1st Rd 2021 - Jazz, Lost West Conf Semis 2024 - Timberwolves, Lost West Conf Finals | ||
| Defensive Player of The Year | ||
| Sidney Moncrief | 2 times | |
|
1983 - Bucks, Lost East Conf Finals
1984 - Bucks, Lost East Conf Finals | ||
| Defensive Player of The Year | ||
| Mark Eaton | 2 times | |
|
1985 - Jazz, Lost West Conf Semis
1989 - Jazz, Lost West Conf 1st Rd | ||
| Defensive Player of The Year | ||
| Marcus Camby | 1 time | |
|
2007 - Nuggets, Lost West Conf 1st Rd
| ||
| Defensive Player of The Year | ||
| Joakim Noah | 1 time | |
|
2014 - Bulls, Lost East Conf 1st Rd
| ||
| Defensive Player of The Year | ||
| Marcus Smart | 1 time | |
|
2022 - Celtics, Lost NBA Finals
| ||
| Defensive Player of The Year | ||
| Alvin Robertson | 1 time | |
|
1986 - Spurs, Lost West Conf 1st Rd
| ||
| Defensive Player of The Year | ||
| Jaren Jackson Jr. | 1 time | |
|
2023 - Grizzlies, Lost West Conf 1st Rd
| ||
| Defensive Player of The Year | ||
| Evan Mobley | 1 time | |
|
2025 - Cavaliers, Lost East Conf Semis
| ||