Victor Wembanyama has etched his name into basketball history after being named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award winner with a unanimous vote, the first time this has happened in the award’s 43-year history.
The 22-year-old San Antonio Spurs center received all 100 first-place votes, becoming not only the first unanimous winner but also the youngest recipient of the award.
He is just the second player to claim the honor within his first three seasons, following Spurs legend David Robinson, who achieved the feat in the 1991–92 season.
Wembanyama, the first overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, has dominated defensively, leading the league in blocks (3.1 per game) for a third consecutive season.
He also posted career-best numbers across the board, averaging 25.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, and one steal per game, underlining his all-around impact.
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“I’m super happy and proud to be the first unanimous winner,” Wembanyama said in a post-award interview.
In the voting, Chet Holmgren of the Oklahoma City Thunder finished second, while Ausar Thompson of the Detroit Pistons came third.
The young French star also played a key role in guiding San Antonio to a 62–20 regular-season record, with the team boasting the league’s third-best defensive rating. German legend Dirk Nowitzki praised his influence, noting that Wembanyama “changes the game just by being on the court.”
Wembanyama carried his form into the playoffs, scoring 35 points in his debut as the Spurs opened their series with a win over the Portland Trail Blazers.
Elsewhere in the postseason, the Cleveland Cavaliers took a 2–0 series lead over the Toronto Raptors behind strong performances from Donovan Mitchell and James Harden.
The Minnesota Timberwolves rallied to beat the Denver Nuggets, while the Atlanta Hawks edged the New York Knicks in a one-point thriller.
With his historic defensive recognition and strong playoff start, Wembanyama is also emerging as a serious contender for the league’s MVP award.
