Victor Wembanyama speaks to reporters at a team Media Day event.
Victor Wembanyama speaks to reporters at a team Media Day event. Credit: Michael Karlis

Spurs superstar forward Victor Wembanyama was named NBA Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) on Monday, becoming the youngest player in league history to win the honor.

The 22-year-old Frenchman also is the only player to receive unanimous approval for the award, which is decided by a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters from the U.S. and Canada. He’s been in the running for DPOY since the start of his career.

Wembanyama came in as runner-up during his 2024 rookie season and was the favorite last year until a blood clot in his right shoulder ended his 2024-25 season early.

Wemby may not be done winning awards yet this season either. He’s also a finalist for the NBA’s coveted MVP award, typically announced in May.

The NBA 2025-26 DPOY winner and his teammates will take on the Portland Trail Blazers at 7 p.m. this Tuesday at the Frost Bank Center for Game 2 of the Western Conference quarterfinals.

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Michael Karlis is a multimedia journalist at the San Antonio Current, whose coverage in print and on social media focuses on local and state politics. He is a graduate of American University in Washington,...