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Victor Wembanyama was named the NBA’s 2025-26 Defensive Player of the Year in historic fashion on April 20, receiving all 100 first-place votes from media voters.
The 7ft-4 San Antonio Spurs center, 22, becomes the youngest and first-ever unanimous recipient of the award after leading the league in blocks (3.1 per game) for a third consecutive season and helping the Spurs post a top-three defensive rating and a 62-20 record.
Wembanyama cleared the league’s eligibility threshold this season and also ranks among MVP finalists alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokić. The win adds to Spurs defensive lore — San Antonio is now the first franchise with four DPOY winners — and guarantees Wembanyama All-Defensive and likely All-NBA recognition.
Voters placed Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren second and Detroit’s Ausar Thompson third.
Wembanyama’s dominant regular season and a 35-point playoff debut have intensified comparisons to franchise greats and fueled debate over his long-term legacy, durability and his role in the Spurs’ deeper title ambitions.
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France 24 - International breaking news, top stories and headlinesWembanyama wins NBA defensive player of the year
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Wembanyama’s unanimous DPOY is historically notable: public ballots and broad consensus made unanimity possible, and many expect he’ll win multiple DPOYs if healthy, underlining a rapidly emerging defensive legacy.
🕰️ The Story So Far: An Evolving Timeline
Monday, April 20, 2026 23:31 UTC
Wembanyama unanimously wins NBA Defensive Player of Year
Monday, April 20, 2026 01:03 UTC
Gilgeous-Alexander, Jokic, Wembanyama Head MVP Finalists







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