Overview
- Victor Wembanyama received all 100 first-place votes on Monday to win NBA Defensive Player of the Year, becoming the award’s youngest recipient at 22.
- He led the league in blocks for the third straight season at 3.1 per game and anchored a Spurs defense that ranked third while the team went 62-20.
- The media panel’s 100 voters placed Chet Holmgren second and Ausar Thompson third as Wembanyama totaled the maximum 500 points in the balloting.
- He qualified under the NBA’s 65-game rule this year after a blood clot ended last season early and cost him award eligibility.
- The victory gives San Antonio a record four different DPOY winners in franchise history, and Wembanyama remains an MVP finalist with the winner still to be announced.