Victor Wembanyama Wins NBA Defensive Player of the Year, Becomes Youngest Ever Winner
Victor Wembanyama made history on Monday, April 20, 2026, by being named the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year for the 2025-26 season. The 22-year-old French center for the San Antonio Spurs became the youngest player ever to win the award and the first unanimous selection in league history.
According to verified reports, Wembanyama received all 100 first-place votes from the panel of sports media members who vote on the award. This unanimous selection marks a first in the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year history, which dates back to the 1982-83 season.
At 22 years and 106 days old, Wembanyama surpassed the previous youngest winner, Dwight Howard, who was 23 years and 128 days old when he won the award for the 2008-09 season with the Orlando Magic. Wembanyama’s achievement also makes him the fourth San Antonio Spurs player to win the Defensive Player of the Year award, joining Alvin Robertson, David Robinson, and Kawhi Leonard.
The French standout led the NBA in blocks for the third consecutive season, averaging 3.1 blocks per game. This feat places him alongside Dikembe Mutombo and Marcus Camby as the only players to lead the league in blocks for three straight seasons. Wembanyama’s defensive impact was evident as the Spurs ranked third in the NBA in defensive rating (110.4) and held opponents to 45.1% field goal shooting, the fourth-best mark in the league.
Wembanyama’s journey to this award was not without challenges. Blood clots limited him to just 46 games during the 2024-25 season, but he returned stronger in 2025-26, playing in 64 regular-season games and the NBA Cup final, which counted as his 65th game for award eligibility. His 627 total blocks since entering the league in 2023 are 203 more than any other active player.
Following the announcement, Wembanyama appeared on the “NBC Showtime” pregame display alongside his mother, Elodie, and the Spurs’ defensive coordinator, Sean Sweeney. He expressed his happiness about winning the award and pride in being the first-ever unanimous Defensive Player of the Year selection.
Looking ahead, Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs will continue their pursuit of postseason success as they build around their defensive cornerstone. The young French star has already established himself as one of the premier defenders in NBA history at just 22 years old.
For continued updates on Victor Wembanyama’s career and the San Antonio Spurs’ season, stay tuned to trusted sports news sources.
