For the first time in the 41-year history of the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award, a player has achieved perfect unanimity in the voting process.
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama made basketball history Monday when the NBA revealed he captured all 100 first-place votes to claim the defensive honor without a single dissenting ballot.
At 22 years and 98 days old, Wembanyama becomes the youngest recipient of this prestigious recognition while also marking his third consecutive season leading the NBA in blocked shots with 3.1 per contest.
The two-time All-Star posted personal bests this season with 25.0 points and 11.5 rebounds per game, adding one steal per contest as San Antonio posted the league’s second-best record at 62-20 and ranked third in defensive efficiency.
With his perfect 500-point voting total, Wembanyama joins Spurs legend David Robinson as the only players since the 1991-92 campaign to capture the award within their initial three NBA seasons.
This achievement extends an impressive organizational legacy, as San Antonio now boasts four different Defensive Player of the Year winners across five total awards: Alvin Robertson in 1986, Robinson, Kawhi Leonard in both 2015 and 2016, and now Wembanyama – more than any other franchise in league history.
Oklahoma City Thunder’s Chet Holmgren claimed second place with 239 points, earning 76 second-place selections, while Detroit Pistons’ Ausar Thompson finished third with 60 points from nine second-place votes. Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert received 41 points for fourth place, followed by Toronto’s Scottie Barnes with 21 points.
Trail Blazers head coach Tiago Splitter praised the young star’s impact following San Antonio’s 111-98 playoff victory over Portland on Sunday. “He changes the game so much,” Splitter said after watching Wembanyama establish a franchise playoff debut record with 35 points while contributing two blocks defensively.
