By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama was named NBA Defensive Player of the Year on Monday evening, becoming the first to win the award unanimously.
At 22, he is the youngest player to win the award and the second to win it within their first three seasons, after Spurs legend David Robinson (1991-92).
Wembanyama was the first overall draft pick in 2023 and has led the league in blocks (3.1 per game) for the third straight season.
The two-time All-Star also averaged career highs in points (25.0) and rebounds (11.5), and claimed a steal per game.
“I’m super, super happy to win this award and actually super proud to be the first ever unanimous [winner],” he told NBC.
Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren and Detroit’s Ausar Thompson were the other finalists, after both helped their teams secure No. 1 seeds for the playoffs. But this was never in doubt, not after the 7-foot-4 — or maybe taller — Wembanyama led the NBA in blocked shots for a third consecutive season and generally terrorized opponents any time they wanted to score.
The NBA will continue its award announcements Tuesday when the Clutch Player of the Year — either Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards, Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or Denver’s Jamal Murray — is revealed.
Wembanyama is also a finalist for MVP, with the winner of that trophy not set to be revealed until next week at the earliest.