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NBA DPOY Victor Wembanyama enters uncharted territory in more than one ways
TL;DR
Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs has won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award, becoming the youngest player to achieve this feat. He is also the first unanimous recipient of the Hakeem Olajuwon award and the first Spurs player to win any NBA award unanimously.
Key points
- Victor Wembanyama won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award
- He is the youngest player to win this award
- Wembanyama averaged 25.0 points and led the NBA in blocks
- He was the first unanimous recipient of the Hakeem Olajuwon award
- Wembanyama is the first Spurs player to win any NBA award unanimously
San Antonio SpursVictor WembanyamaChet HolmgrenOklahoma City Thunder
NBA DPOY Victor Wembanyama enters uncharted territory in more than one ways originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
As expected, San Antonio Spurs sensation Victor Wembanyama won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year. Oklahoma City Thunder’s Chet Holmgren and Detroit Pistons’ Ausar Thompson were the other finalists, but they proved to be no challenge against the former first overall pick.
The Spurs star, who was announced as the NBA MVP finalist last weekend, became the youngest player ever to win the award. The 22-year-old also became the first unanimous recipient of the Hakeem Olajuwon award. Moreover, he became the first player in Spurs history to win any NBA award unanimously.
Wemby had been flirting with the DPOY award ever since he stepped foot in the NBA. In his rookie season, he finished second in DPOY voting. He was the favorite to win last season until a medical condition ended his season prematurely. Finally, this year, Wembanyama gave no reason not to vote for him.
The Spurs forward led the NBA in blocks while also contributing in other facets of the game. Wembanyama averaged 3.1 blocks, 11.5 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game while averaging 25.0 points per game on offense. His ability to protect the rim, grab defensive boards and stretch the floor was unmatched by anyone in the NBA.
More: Spurs' Victor Wembanyama shatters multiple NBA history records with DPOY award win
Q&A
What records did Victor Wembanyama set by winning the DPOY award?
Victor Wembanyama became the youngest player ever to win the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award and the first unanimous recipient of the Hakeem Olajuwon award.
How did Victor Wembanyama perform during the season?
Wembanyama averaged 25.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.1 blocks, and 1.0 steals per game, leading the NBA in blocks.
Who were the other finalists for the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award?
The other finalists for the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award were Chet Holmgren of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Ausar Thompson of the Detroit Pistons.
