Victor Wembanyama’s league-leading blocks, top-ranked defensive estimated plus-minus, and rim protection have anchored the Spurs’ interior while fueling his status as the clear Defensive Player of the Year frontrunner, shaping trader consensus around his near-certain First Team selection. Chet Holmgren’s versatile switchability and Oklahoma City’s top-rated team defense, Ausar Thompson’s elite on-ball disruption and deflections for Detroit, Rudy Gobert’s continued paint dominance with Minnesota, and Derrick White’s versatile perimeter-to-rim contributions for Boston round out the most frequently cited candidates in expert ballots. Late-season injury recoveries, final regular-season defensive ratings, and the timing of All-Defensive voting will determine whether any late surges alter the five-player makeup.