San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award on Monday, becoming the first unanimous winner in the award's history. The 22-year-old French star received all 100 first-place votes, totaling 500 points, well ahead of Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren, who finished second with 239 points. Wembanyama is the youngest player to win the award, surpassing the previous record held by Dwight Howard. His defensive dominance helped elevate the Spurs' performance, marking a significant milestone for the franchise, which last saw Kawhi Leonard win the honor in consecutive years from 2014 to 2016. Wembanyama's achievement comes one year after he missed 36 games due to deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder, which rendered him ineligible for awards during his rookie season. He is also a finalist for the NBA Most Valuable Player award, alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokić. Teammate Keldon Johnson praised Wembanyama's work ethic, calling him "one of the hardest workers I've ever been around" and emphasizing that his success has been earned through dedication. Wembanyama, speaking last year after Rudy Gobert's fourth DPOY win, had predicted his own rise, saying Gobert's time as the league's top defender was nearing its end.
Wembanyama's unanimous DPOY win was inevitable only because the voters had already seen him sit out most of his rookie season due to a serious injury. This isn't a breakout — it's a delayed arrival, one he forecasted with confidence before proving it on defense. No African or Nigerian player featured in the award voting or related statements.
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