Victor Wembanyama Makes History as NBA’s First Unanimous Defensive Player of the Year
Victor Wembanyama has made NBA history by becoming the first player ever to win the Defensive Player of the Year award unanimously. The San Antonio Spurs center received all 100 first-place votes from the panel of sports media members who vote on the award, as confirmed by multiple reputable sources including USA Today, ESPN and The New York Times.
The 22-year-old French phenom achieved this milestone on Monday, April 20, 2026, just days after turning 22 years and 106 days old. This makes him not only the first unanimous winner but also the youngest player in NBA history to capture the Defensive Player of the Year honor, surpassing the previous record held by Dwight Howard, who won at age 23 years and 128 days during the 2008-09 season with the Orlando Magic.
Wembanyama’s historic achievement comes in his third NBA season, where he established himself as one of the league’s premier defensive forces. He led the NBA in blocks per game for the third consecutive season with an average of 3.1, joining an elite group of players that includes Dikembe Mutumbo and Marcus Camby as the only players to lead the league in blocks for three straight seasons.
His defensive impact was instrumental in transforming the San Antonio Spurs into one of the league’s top defensive teams. Under his leadership, the Spurs ranked third in the NBA in defensive rating (110.4), held opponents to 111.5 points per game (eighth in the league), and limited teams to a 45.1% field goal percentage (fourth-best in the NBA). These defensive metrics underscore why Wembanyama was the clear choice for the award, receiving every single first-place vote from voters.
The voting results showed Wembanyama’s dominance, with Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren finishing second with 76 second-place votes and Detroit Pistons wing Ausar Thompson taking third place. This unanimous recognition marks a significant moment in NBA history, as no player had previously received all possible first-place votes for the Defensive Player of the Year award since its inception in the 1982-83 season.
Wembanyama joins an illustrious list of Spurs legends who have won the Defensive Player of the Year award, becoming the fourth player in franchise history to earn this honor. He follows in the footsteps of Alvin Robertson, David Robinson, and Kawhi Leonard, who won the award in back-to-back seasons during 2014-15 and 2015-16.
Reflecting on the achievement, Wembanyama expressed humility and gratitude, particularly noting the support of his family. During an appearance on the “NBC Showtime” pregame demonstrate alongside his mother, Elodie, he shared, “It feels great. My mom is sitting here next to me and said something really true,” highlighting the personal significance of the moment.
The Spurs’ defensive coordinator, Sean Sweeney, also joined Wembanyama on the broadcast, underscoring the team’s collective effort in building a defensive identity around the young star. Wembanyama acknowledged the challenge of meeting the 65-game minimum for award eligibility, noting that he played in 64 regular-season games and the NBA Cup final, which counted as his 65th game for voting purposes.
This recognition cements Wembanyama’s status as one of the NBA’s elite defensive players and sets the stage for what could be a historic run of dominance on that end of the floor. As he continues to develop, the basketball world will be watching to see if he can potentially win multiple Defensive Player of the Year awards in succession, following the path set by earlier Spurs greats like Kawhi Leonard.
For continued updates on Victor Wembanyama’s career and the San Antonio Spurs’ season, fans can follow official team announcements and league updates as the NBA playoffs progress.
