Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama earns inaugural career Defensive Player of the Year award.
SAN ANTONIO — San Antonio Spurs standout Victor Wembanyama secured the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year accolade on Monday night, aligning with the trajectory he envisioned for himself as a rookie.
Shortly before fellow French player Rudy Gobert claimed the DPOY title for the fourth time at the conclusion of Wembanyama’s rookie season in 2024, the then-20-year-old remarked in French that Gobert’s era of winning the award was nearing its end.
“I recognize that Rudy has a strong chance of winning it this year, and it would be well-deserved,” Wembanyama stated. “Let him take it this time, because after that, it will no longer be his turn.”
Wembanyama becomes the youngest recipient of the DPOY award at 22 years old. He is also the first player from San Antonio to win the DPOY since former Spurs star Kawhi Leonard achieved the honor in consecutive seasons (2014-15 and 2015-16), a pattern Wembanyama aspires to revive, potentially with even more consecutive wins.
It took a year longer than Wembanyama anticipated to earn his first DPOY due to his ineligibility for awards last season after he missed 36 games, primarily due to a diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder. Now, it seems to be Wembanyama’s moment to start accumulating accolades.
Wembanyama is also a finalist for the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic.
“Everything that [he’s] accomplished thus far has been earned and never handed out,” remarked teammate Keldon Johnson, a finalist for NBA Sixth Man of the Year. “He’s one of the most dedicated workers I’ve ever encountered. He approaches his craft with great seriousness, and I believe this is merely a small indication of what lies ahead for Victor. He’s an exceptional player on the court and an even more remarkable individual off the court.”
Wembanyama led the NBA in blocks (197) for the second consecutive season while also recording 66 steals as the defensive cornerstone for a Spurs team that concluded with the league’s second-best defensive rating (110.4). He ranked fourth in rebounding (11.5 per game) and second in defensive rebounding (9.5 per game) behind Jokic.
“Vic’s quite different from a conventional defender,” teammate Stephon Castle noted. “Typically, when someone wins Defensive Player of the Year, itβs more about team defense, and of course, you must be an excellent defender as well. However, I believe Vic could have won it on any team in the league.”
Wembanyama recorded two blocks on Sunday during his playoff debut against the Portland Trail Blazers. According to ESPN Research, Portland’s shooters went scoreless on 11 attempts when Wembanyama was the defending player.
“He discourages players from even attempting shots,” Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox commented. “When you discuss players who alter shots, he essentially prevents them from shooting at all. They see him in the paint and either dribble out or pass out. He transforms the entire dynamic of your defense and alters the offensive strategies of opposing teams.”
Wembanyama finished second to Gobert in DPOY voting during his rookie year, the only other season he was eligible.
When asked after his final regular-season game if he would be surprised not to win the award unanimously, Wembanyama responded without hesitation.
“Yes, I would,” he replied.
