NBA: Victor Wembanyama unanimously named NBA Defensive Player of the Year

The NBA Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) award, a prestigious honor since 1983, has seen many legendary players rise to the occasion. However, until now, no player had ever received a perfect 100% of the first-place votes. That changed on Monday when San Antonio Spurs superstar center Victor Wembanyama was unanimously awarded the title.

Wembanyama, who is also a candidate for the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award, received all 100 first-place votes, making him the first player in history to accomplish this feat. The 22-year-old expressed his excitement on NBC Sports Network, saying, “I'm super, super happy to win this award and actually super proud to be the first ever unanimous."

A dominant force in the paint, Wembanyama led the NBA in blocks (3.1 per game) for the third consecutive season. At 22 years and 98 days old, he also became the youngest player ever to win the DPOY award. This remarkable achievement adds to his impressive season where he set career highs in points (25.0) and rebounds (11.5), while also contributing a steal per game.

Wembanyama’s contributions were instrumental in the Spurs’ success. The team posted the second-best record in the league (62-20) and ranked third in defensive rating. His 500 points in the voting made him the first player since 1991-92 to win the award within his first three seasons, joining Spurs legend David Robinson in this exclusive club.

This milestone further strengthens the Spurs’ legacy in defensive dominance. Wembanyama is now one of four Spurs players to win the DPOY award, joining Alvin Robertson (1986), Robinson, and Kawhi Leonard (2015, 2016), who collectively account for five of the franchise’s DPOY honors.

Oklahoma City Thunder's Chet Holmgren finished second with 239 points (76 second-place votes), while Detroit Pistons' Ausar Thompson took third with 60 points (nine second-place votes). Rudy Gobert of the Timberwolves (41 points) and Scottie Barnes of the Raptors (21 points) rounded out the top five.

Blazers head coach Tiago Splitter praised Wembanyama’s impact, noting, “He changes the game so much.” Wembanyama continued to make a statement in the playoffs, setting a franchise record with 35 points in his playoff debut during the Spurs' 111-98 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers. He also added two blocks, further showcasing his dominance on both ends of the court.

- Field Level Media/Reuters