Victor Wembanyama became the first unanimous winner of the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year award on Monday night, securing all 100 first-place votes from the global media panel.
The San Antonio Spurs center, at 22 years traditional, is too the youngest player ever to earn the honor, breaking a record that had stood since the award’s inception in the 1982-83 season. His victory was never in doubt after leading the league in blocked shots for the third consecutive season and anchoring a defense that helped propel San Antonio into playoff contention.
Wembanyama’s achievement places him in rare company historically. He joins David Robinson and Michael Jordan as the only players to win both Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year during their careers. The Spurs franchise now boasts four distinct DPOY winners — Alvin Robertson, David Robinson, Kawhi Leonard, and Wembanyama — making them the first team in NBA history to achieve that milestone.
The path to this recognition was delayed by health complications. Wembanyama missed significant time last season due to a deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder, which rendered him ineligible for annual awards despite his strong start. He referenced the eligibility threshold of 65 games as a personal hurdle, noting the satisfaction of finally meeting the requirement while performing at an elite level.
Teammates and opponents alike have acknowledged his impact. Keldon Johnson described Wembanyama as the best player in the world and praised his work ethic, calling the award a minor token of what is still to come. The French prodigy had predicted this outcome years earlier, telling reporters before Rudy Gobert’s fourth DPOY win in 2024 that it would not be long before the award changed hands.
While the defensive honor has been settled, Wembanyama remains in contention for another major accolade. He is a finalist for the Most Valuable Player award, alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic, with the winner set to be announced next week at the earliest.
The voting results underscored the consensus around his defensive dominance. Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren finished second with 76 second-place votes, while Detroit’s Ausar Thompson placed third. No other candidate received more than 42 first-place votes, highlighting the breadth of agreement among voters.
Looking ahead, Wembanyama’s focus remains on sustaining this level of excellence. His stated goal of reigniting a streak of consecutive Defensive Player of the Year wins for the Spurs adds motivation beyond individual recognition, tying his personal ambitions to the franchise’s defensive legacy.
What makes Wembanyama’s Defensive Player of the Year win historic?
He is the youngest winner at 22 years old, the first unanimous selection in the award’s history, and the fourth different Spur to win the honor — a franchise first.
How did health issues affect his timeline for winning this award?
Wembanyama missed 36 games last season due to deep vein thrombosis in his shoulder, making him ineligible for annual awards and delaying his first DPOY win by a year despite early expectations.