SAN ANTONIO, Texas — April 20, 2026 — Victor Wembanyama has made NBA history by becoming the first player ever to win the Defensive Player of the Year award unanimously, receiving all 100 first-place votes at just 22 years old. The San Antonio Spurs star is also the youngest recipient of the honor, cementing his status as one of the league’s most dominant forces.

The NBA announced Monday night that Victor Wembanyama has been named the 2025-26 Kia Defensive Player of the Year, marking the first unanimous selection in the award’s 44-year history.

Wembanyama, standing at 7-foot-4 with an 8-foot wingspan, averaged a league-leading 3.1 blocks per game along with 1.0 steals, anchoring the Spurs’ defense and helping them secure the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference with a 62-20 record.

The French phenom joins Michael Jordan and David Robinson as the only players to win both Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in their careers. He had previously finished second in voting as a rookie and was considered a frontrunner last season before a medical setback cut his campaign short.

“This is just the beginning,” Wembanyama said after receiving the award, reflecting on his rapid rise in the NBA. His dominance has already made him a finalist for the league’s Most Valuable Player award, with All-NBA and All-Defensive team honors expected to follow later this month.

Chet Holmgren of the Oklahoma City Thunder finished second in voting, while Ausar Thompson of the Detroit Pistons came in third. Holmgren praised Wembanyama’s achievement, noting that his consistency and ability to alter games defensively set him apart from other big men in the league.

The unanimous vote underscores how Wembanyama has redefined modern defense, combining rim protection with agility to guard multiple positions. Analysts believe his impact could usher in a new era of defensive specialists who blend size with versatility.

For the Spurs, Wembanyama’s award highlights their resurgence as playoff contenders, with fans in San Antonio hopeful that his defensive dominance will translate into a deep postseason run.

This milestone not only solidifies Wembanyama’s place among the NBA’s elite but also raises expectations for what could be a historic career, with many predicting this will be the first of multiple Defensive Player of the Year trophies he collects.

Image from NBA