Victor Wembanyama is the heavy betting favorite for 2026 NBA Defensive Player of the Year. The biggest obstacle in the San Antonio Spurs center’s way of landing his first of what many NBA observers expect to be many DPOY trophies is the Oklahoma City Thunder. Not just any one player -- the whole team.
Coming off a season in which the Thunder defense rated as one of the greatest in NBA history, the OKC roster is littered with DPOY candidates up and down the roster. All those Defensive Player of the Year gambling graphics making the rounds on social media feature a third of the Thunder roster. Jalen Williams said as much when asked about his own NBA All-Defensive Team selection during his Thunder Media Day interview.
“I also have like five players on the defensive end that can be All Team Defense as well. Caso, Lu, Shai's usually in the running, Chet, AC. So we have these guys that can really play defense and make an impact so it makes it easier for me to give my all defensively too," said Williams.
In the spirit of Williams’ quote, let's take a look at the Thunder's NBA All-Defensive Team nominees. This is an embarrassment of defensive riches.
1. Chet Holmgren. There’s a reason why the NBA is slamming “Chet vs Wemby” as promotional priorities on national television, including Christmas Day. The two young bigs are arguably the league’s best defensive anchors right now and for the next decade. It may be mostly forgotten outside of OKC, but Thunder fans remember Holmgren was on a DPOY trajectory before his hip injury last season.
2. Lu Dort. After years of being foolishly passed over, Dort was finally recognized for his unmatched perimeter clamps with an NBA All-Defensive Team selection last season. Now that he’s in the club, it’s hard to see Dort leaving anytime soon.
3. Jalen Williams. The phrase “he can guard one through five” has been carelessly tossed around for years with players who typically defend two or three positions. But OKC’s swiss army knife is the rare and maybe only exception. Williams literally defended every position from point guard to center last year and did so at an elite, All-Defensive Second Team level.
4. Alex Caruso. The NBA's mics caught Shai Gilgeous-Alexander calling the Thunder vet “First Team” in reference to Caruso’s All-Defensive First Team selection. The two-time champion has also been an All-Defensive Second Team selection. The minimum number of games played requirement is the only thing that held Caruso back from a third selection last season.
5. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The reigning MVP is the dying breed of superstar that also plays plus defense. Regularly atop the league steals leaderboard, Gilgeous-Alexander is the unique high-volume scoring guard that opposing offenses can’t attack as a weak link. The 27-year-old’s length, strength, effort and high IQ set him apart from his fellow MVP candidates on the defensive end.
6. Cason Wallace. On any other team, Wallace is at or near the top of this list. It’s a testament to the defensive talent on this team that the former Kentucky Wildcat is outside the top five. Wallace is a lockdown defender who is one of the league’s leaders in steals per minute. If he played more minutes, he’d be a near lock. And he’s only 21 years old, so he’s just going to get better.
7. Isaiah Hartenstein. OKC’s other 7-footer was well established as a top 10 rim defender during his time with the Knicks, and that paint protection carried over to OKC. Being the second-best rim defender on his own team shouldn’t keep Hartenstein from at least getting an honorable mention here.