OKC Thunder stars Cason Wallace and Chet Holmgren retain the top 2 spots of the latest NBA Defensive Player of the Year rankings. The Wallace-Holmgren partnership leads the team with the best defensive rating in the league by a large margin. For the second straight week, they stayed atop the DPOY standings.While there is no movement in the top 4, Mikal Bridges dropped out of the top 5. Replacing the New York Knicks' defensive stalwart is none other than Amen Thompson, the Houston Rockets’ most versatile and relentless defender. Thompson is in the list for the first time, but he could remain a fixture if he sustains his impact and output.2025-26 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Power Rankings after Week 7#5. Amen ThompsonGP 3 | RPG 6.3 | SPG 1.3 | BPG 0.1After a roughly three-week stretch where Mikal Bridges collected steals and blocks at an incredible pace, the consistent Amen Thompson took over. Thompson’s impact on defense doesn’t show on the stat sheet all the time. He often prevents opponents from getting the ball, and if they do, he stifles them.Last week, he helped hold former teammate Dillon Brooks to 23 points on 10-for-24 shooting. A few nights after facing Brooks, the Dallas Mavericks consistently used multiple screens to keep Thompson from Cooper Flagg. The rookie made 7 of 15 shots, but was only 1-for-6 when Thompson was his primary defender. The highlight against the Mavs was Thompson rejecting an Anthony Davis dunk.Amen Thompson looks like he will be a fixture in the NBA Defensive Player of the Year race.#4. Evan MobleyGP 3 | RPG 10.0 | SPG 1.0 | BPG 2.7Evan Mobley bounced back from an underwhelming defensive stretch the previous week to a superior performance in his past three games. The Cleveland Cavaliers are struggling on defense, but they would be much worse without their defensive ace.Mobley averaged 2.7 blocks per game last week, but he changed many more. The reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year showed his defensive versatility against the Warriors on Saturday. Mobley guarded everyone from center Quinten Post to point guard Pat Spencer.#3. Dyson DanielsGP 2 | RPG 4.5 | SPG 2.0 | BPG 0.0Dyson Daniels remains the most disruptive Eastern Conference perimeter defender. The Atlanta Hawks guard tops the NBA in deflections (5.2) and is second in steals (2.2). Daniels’ steals aren’t on the same pace as last season, but he is always a threat in the passing lanes.Daniels is playing with Nickeil Alexander-Walker, an excellent defender, but the Australian’s defensive impact remains as important for the Hawks. He deserves the No. 3 spot on the NBA Defensive Player of the Year rankings.#2. Chet HolmgrenGP 3 | RPG 8.3 | SPG 0.1 | BPG 2.0Chet Holmgren makes his case as the NBA Defensive Player of the Year by anchoring the OKC Thunder defense, the stingiest in the league. Holmgren’s length makes him one of the best rim protectors, even if his blocks per game (1.5) seem underwhelming. Opponents sometimes do not even dare to attempt a shot with him patrolling the paint.Holmgren’s 0.191 defensive win shares are the second-best in the NBA for players with at least 15 games played. Only the player at the top of this list has a better defensive rating than him.Chet Holmgren is the odds-on favorite to win the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award.#1. Cason WallaceGP 3 | RPG 3.3 | SPG 3.3 | BPG 0.0Cason Wallace continues to hold pole position in the NBA Defensive Player of the Year race. Last week, he overtook Dyson Daniels for the most steals per game. Wallace’s 2.3 spg is now the best in the league. The OKC Thunder guard’s 5.0 deflections per outing is also third.For players averaging over 25 minutes with a minimum of 20 games played, Wallace’s 100.2 is the best defensive rating in the league. He is a shade better than Chet Holmgren’s 100.6.Cason Wallace was the biggest reason Dillon Brooks finished with 16 points on 4-for-16 shooting on Wednesday. Wallace also helped hound Collin Gillespie to two points in 26 minutes. He deservedly owns the top spot in the latest Defensive Player of the Year power rankings.