Winners
| ^ | Denotes player who is still active in the NBA |
| * | Elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame |
| Player (X) | Denotes the number of times the player has received the award |
| Season | Player | Position | Nationality | Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982–83 | Moncrief, SidneySidney Moncrief | Guard | United States | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 1983–84 | Moncrief, SidneySidney Moncrief (2) | Guard | United States | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 1984–85 | Eaton, MarkMark Eaton | Center | United States | Utah Jazz |
| 1985–86 | Robertson, AlvinAlvin Robertson | Guard | United States | San Antonio Spurs |
| 1986–87 | Cooper, MichaelMichael Cooper | Guard/Forward | United States | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1987–88 | Jordan, MichaelMichael Jordan* | Guard | United States | Chicago Bulls |
| 1988–89 | Eaton, MarkMark Eaton (2) | Center | United States | Utah Jazz |
| 1989–90 | Rodman, DennisDennis Rodman | Forward | United States | Detroit Pistons |
| 1990–91 | Rodman, DennisDennis Rodman (2) | Forward | United States | Detroit Pistons |
| 1991–92 | Robinson, DavidDavid Robinson* | Center | United States | San Antonio Spurs |
| 1992–93 | Olajuwon, HakeemHakeem Olajuwon* | Center | Nigeria | Houston Rockets |
| 1993–94 | Olajuwon, HakeemHakeem Olajuwon* (2) | Center | United States | Houston Rockets |
| 1994–95 | Mutombo, DikembeDikembe Mutombo | Center | Zaire | Denver Nuggets |
| 1995–96 | Payton, GaryGary Payton | Guard | United States | Seattle SuperSonics |
| 1996–97 | Mutombo, DikembeDikembe Mutombo (2) | Center | Zaire | Atlanta Hawks |
| 1997–98 | Mutombo, DikembeDikembe Mutombo (3) | Center | Democratic Republic of the Congo | Atlanta Hawks |
| 1998–99 | Mourning, AlonzoAlonzo Mourning | Center | United States | Miami Heat |
| 1999–00 | Mourning, AlonzoAlonzo Mourning (2) | Center | United States | Miami Heat |
| 2000–01 | Mutombo, DikembeDikembe Mutombo (4) | Center | Democratic Republic of the Congo | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 2001–02 | Wallace, BenBen Wallace^ | Center/Forward | United States | Detroit Pistons |
| 2002–03 | Wallace, BenBen Wallace^ (2) | Center/Forward | United States | Detroit Pistons |
| 2003–04 | Artest, RonRon Artest^ | Forward/Guard | United States | Indiana Pacers |
| 2004–05 | Wallace, BenBen Wallace^ (3) | Center/Forward | United States | Detroit Pistons |
| 2005–06 | Wallace, BenBen Wallace^ (4) | Center/Forward | United States | Detroit Pistons |
| 2006–07 | Camby, MarcusMarcus Camby^ | Center | United States | Denver Nuggets |
| 2007–08 | Garnett, KevinKevin Garnett^ | Forward | United States | Boston Celtics |
| 2008–09 | Howard, DwightDwight Howard^ | Center | United States | Orlando Magic |
| 2009–10 | Howard, DwightDwight Howard^ (2) | Center | United States | Orlando Magic |
| 2010–11 | Howard, DwightDwight Howard^ (3) | Center | United States | Orlando Magic |
| 2011–12 | Chandler, TysonTyson Chandler^ | Center | United States | New York Knicks |
Read more about this topic: NBA Defensive Player Of The Year Award
Famous quotes containing the word winners:
“The two real political parties in America are the Winners and the Losers. The people don’t acknowledge this. They claim membership in two imaginary parties, the Republicans and the Democrats, instead.”
—Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. (b. 1922)