Victor Wembanyama wins NBA Defensive Player of the year in unanimous vote

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Victor Wembanyama became the first player to unanimously win the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award, receiving all 100 first-place votes, the league said on Monday. The San Antonio Spurs center led the NBA in blocks for a third straight season and is the youngest recipient at 22.

Issued on: 21/04/2026 - 02:01

1 min Reading time Share By: FRANCE 24

The ⁠NBA ⁠Defensive Player of ⁠the Year award ​has been around since 1983, and in that time, no player has ​ever received 100% of the first-place votes for the award.

Victor Wembanyama is now the first.

The San Antonio Spurs superstar center received 100 first-place votes ​out ‌of a possible 100 to unanimously win the prestigious ⁠award, the NBA announced on Monday.

Wembanyama, a frontrunner for Most Valuable Player, led the league ‌in blocks (3.1 per game) for the third straight season ⁠in becoming the youngest player to ever earn the award (22 years, 98 days).

The two-time All-Star also averaged career highs in ​points (25.0) and rebounds (11.5) while chipping in a steal ‌per game for a Spurs team that compiled the second-best record in the league (62-20) and also ranked No. 3 in the league in defensive rating.

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Wembanyama ‌secured 500 points in the voting and joined fellow Spur legend David Robinson in becoming the ​only two players since 1991-92 to win the award within their first three seasons.

That continues a remarkable tradition: a league-high four different ​Spurs players have now won the award a combined five times: ​Alvin Robertson (1986), Robinson, Kawhi Leonard (2015, 2016) and Wembanyama.

The Oklahoma ​City Thunder's Chet Holmgren finished second in the voting with 239 points (76 second-place votes), while the ​Detroit Pistons' Ausar Thompson finished third with 60 points (nine second-place votes). The Timberwolves' Rudy Gobert (41 points) and the Raptors' Scottie Barnes (21 points) rounded out the top five.

"He changes the game so much," Trail Blazers coach Tiago ⁠Splitter marveled Sunday after Wembanyama's dominant effort in San Antonio's playoff-opening 111-98 victory over Portland. ⁠

Wembanyama set ​a franchise record with 35 points in his playoff debut, adding two blocks on the defensive end for good measure.

(FRANCE 24 with Reuters)

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