The Korean Basketball League Defensive Player of the Year Award is an annual Korean Basketball League (KBL) award given to the best defensive player during the regular season. The awardee is selected from players voted into the Defensive Best 5 team. In addition to contributing to their team's overall defensive record, selected players must accumulate high averages in the following statistical categories: blocks, steals and defensive rebounds.[1]
| ^ | Denotes player who is still active in the KBL |
| Denotes team which won the Championship that season | |
| Player (X) | Denotes the number of times the player has been selected for the Defensive Best 5 |
| Player (in bold text) | Indicates the player who won the Defensive Player of the Year Award |
| Season | Player | Position | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | |||
| Lee Ji-sung | F | Daejeon Hyundai Dynat | |
| Jang Yoon-seob | F | Wonju Naray Blue Bird | |
| Kim Hyun-guk | F | Gwangju Nasan Flamans | |
| Lee Hoon-jae | F | ||
| Kim Byung-soo | F | Wonju Naray Blue Bird | |
| 1997–98 | |||
| G | Wonju Naray Blue Bird | ||
| Park Kyu-hyun | G | Gyeongnam LG Sakers | |
| Kim Young-man | F | Busan Kia Enterprise | |
| Kim Hyun-guk (2) | F | Gwangju Nasan Flamans | |
| Park Jae-heon | C | Gyeongnam LG Sakers | |
| 1998–99 | |||
| Joo Hee-jung (2) | G | Suwon Samsung Thunders | |
| Stais Boseman | G | Incheon Daewoo Zeus | |
| Choo Seung-gyun | F | ||
| Lee Hoon-jae (2) | F | Daegu Tongyang Orions | |
| Park Jae-heon | C | Changwon LG Sakers | |
| 1999–00 | |||
| Joo Hee-jung (3) | G | Suwon Samsung Thunders | |
| Roderick Hannibal | G | ||
| Choo Seung-gyun (2) | F | Daejeon Hyundai Gullivers | |
| Yang Kyung-min | F | Wonju Sambo Xers | |
| Lorenzo Hall | C | Daejeon Hyundai Gullivers |
There were no Defensive Best 5 selections from the 2011–12 season until the 2013–14 season. During that time period, only the Defensive Player of the Year Award was awarded to one player.[1]
| Season | Player | Position | Team | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011–12 | Kim Joo-sung | C/F | Wonju Dongbu Promy | |
| 2012–13 | Yang Dong-geun | G | ||
| 2013–14 | Yang Hee-jong | F | Anyang KGC |
