LOS ANGELES.- The French center Victor Wembanyamaof the San Antonio Spurswas appointed on Monday Defender of the Year of the NBAannounced the North American league on its X account.
At 22 years old, the 2.24 meter tall French prodigy is the youngest player to win this award, which was taken for granted.
He was chosen as the first option (of three) by the entire panel of journalists with the right to vote, indicated the NBA in X. It is the first time that there has been unanimity since the introduction of this award in the 1982-1983 season.
“I’m very happy and very proud to be the first to do it unanimously,” Wembanyama told NBC. “It feels amazing.”
It happens in the prize Evan Mobleyof the Cleveland Cavalierscrowned last year after having taken advantage of the ineligibility of Wembanyama, a victim of a venous thrombosis that ended his season in February.
Before Wemby, two other Frenchmen had been distinguished for their defensive work: Rudy Gobert (2018, 2019, 2021, 2024) and Joakim Noah (2014).
Wembanyama represents a unique defensive threat thanks to the combination of his size and mobility, which has led the Spurs to second place in the Western Conference, well above expectations at the beginning of the season.
He averaged 3.1 blocks per game during the regular season, far and away first in this category.
He added up to 9 blocks in a match, in the overtime victory against the Pelicans in October.
“My job is to stop scorers. Blocking is something I’ve been working on my whole life,” Wemby added.
Finalist for MVP
Elected Rookie of the Year in 2024 at the end of its first campaign, Wemby aspires this season for another award, that of MVP (Most Valuable Player), the most prestigious.
With 25.0 points and 11.5 rebounds in less than 30 minutes per game (29.2), he has signed his most complete statistical sheet.
He is part of the three finalists, along with the current MVP, the Canadian Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder), and the Serbian Nikola Jokic (Nuggets), already winner three times (2021, 2022, 2024).
At the end of March, Wemby had reinforced its candidacy against its two rivals, considered better scorers, by remembering that defense represents “50% of the game.”
The date of the winner’s announcement has not yet been specified by the NBA.
Accustomed to breaking precocity records, the Frenchman on this occasion became the youngest winner of the Defender of the Year trophy, ahead of five other players rewarded at the age of 23, including Mobley, Dwight Howard and Kawhi Leonard.
He also won the title of best defender of the month three times this season. Western Conference (January, February and March).
In the coming weeks, another cup will occupy your mind: the trophy Larry O’Brien of the NBA champion.
In his playoff debut Sunday, Wembanyama scored 35 points in the Spurs’ home win against the Trail Blazers by 111 to 98.
