Victor Wembanyama could become first unanimous Defensive Player of the Year ever this season
Former No. 1 pick Victor Wembanyama could and should become the first unanimous Defensive Player of the Year in 2025-26, barring some surprise voting.
Surprisingly enough, there has never been a unanimous Defensive Player of the Year award winner in league history. The closest any player has come thus far was Detroit Pistons legend Ben Wallace in 2001-02, when he earned 116 of the 120 first-place votes. The remaining four were split between Kevin Garnett , Kobe Bryant and Dikembe Mutombo , but those were likely contrarian choices, as everyone knew Wallace was the league's best defender - by a mile - that year.
Wallace averaged a league-leading 3. 5 blocks that season, to go with 1. 7 steals and 13.
0 rebounds per night. Well, we think history could be made this season, as San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama could - and likely should - become the first player ever to win Defensive Player of the Year unanimously. Not only is the French superstar leading the NBA with 3.
0 blocks per game, but he also anchors a Spurs defense that ranks Top 3 in defensive efficiency, giving up 110. 4 points per 100 possessions . According to FanDuel's sportsbook , Wembanyama is the heavy favorite to take home Defensive Player of the Year in 2025-26 at -2000 odds.
Continue to the original source for the full article.