San Antonio Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama Named NBA 2025-2026 Defensive Player of the Year
It’s clear to see how he has uplifted his team His teammates love him and other players not on his team fear him. He hangs out under the basket blocking shots or finishing the plays for his fellow Spurs. But that’s not really surprising given that the forward-center stands at a lofty 7’4″. Therefore, not only was the San Antonio Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama named the NBA 2025-2026 Defensive Player of the Year but at the ripe old age of 22 he’s the youngest winner of the award.
He came close to winning the award in his rookie year. He was the favorite last season until a medical condition ended his season prematurely. But this season he came back better than ever and left no doubt in anyone’s mind that he was the best defensive player on the basketball court.
Hence NBA Communications let it be known: “San Antonio Spurs forward-center Victor Wembanyama has been named the 2025-26 Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year, earning the Hakeem Olajuwon Trophy.” They also pointed out other Wemby accomplishments:
“Victor Wembanyama is the youngest player to win the Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award. He is also the first player to win the award within his first three seasons since David Robinson (1991-92 with San Antonio).”
He earned the award without question, garnering 100 1st place votes making him the unanimous Defensive Player of the Year. His next closest competitor was Chet Holmgren of the Oklahoma City who received 76 2nd place votes. And Ausar Thompson of the Detroit Pistons received the most third place votes with 33. Wembanyama dominated the voting the same way he dominates on the court.
San Antonio Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama Named NBA 2025-2026 Defensive Player of the Year
Wembanyama is also a finalist for MVP. The winner of that trophy not set to be revealed until next week at the earliest. So, he’s not done yet trying to rack up the awards. A couple of other interesting notes about his win:
- The Spurs became the first franchise with four players to win DPOY, which was first handed out in the 1982-83 season. The others? Alvin Robertson in 1986, David Robinson in 1992 and Kawhi Leonard in 2015 and 2016.
- Wembanyama joins Robinson and Michael Jordan as the only players to win both Rookie of the Year and DPOY.
- Golden State’s Stephen Curry was the unanimous MVP in 2016 and now Wemby has done it 10 years later
Unfortunately, after having a great Game 1 against the Portland Blazers in the playoffs things took a turn for the worst. In Game 2 Wembanyama was chasing a ball and fell hitting his head hard on the court. In fact, it appeared that he briefly lost consciousness. He left the court and was ruled out of the rest of the game.
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