Victor Wembanyama Wins 2025-26 NBA Defensive Player of the Year
After six agonizingly long years the wait is over and the kids from the Alamo City did not disappoint.
In their first playoff appearance since 2019, the Spurs ran through the visiting Portland Trailblazers 111-98 to claim a game 1 victory in the opening round of the postseason.
V-Dub cashed in with 35 points in 33 minutes in his playoff debut. The big Frenchman was also 5-6 from beyond the arc in the victory.
Wembanyama’s 21 first-half points set an NBA record for the most in the opening half of an NBA playoff debut since the league’s play-by-play era began in 1997.
His 35 total points set a Spurs franchise record for the most in a playoff debut, surpassing Tim Duncan’s 32 in 1998.
“It is obviously different, but we’ve been really good in the regular season,” Wembanyama said. “So, we have no reason to act differently or do anything different.”
Stephon Castle and De’Aaron Fox each added 17 points and combined for 15 assists for the Spurs.
Deni Avdija had 30 points and 10 rebounds to lead Portland, while Scoot Henderson, the No. 3 pick in the 2023 draft behind Wembanyama and Charlotte’s Brandon Miller, added 18 points for the Blazers.
The defensive juggernaut that is this year’s rendition of the Spurs was able to match the physical play from to the Trail Blazers while holding them to 10-for-38 (26%) shooting on 3-pointers. The Spurs also and had a 45-38 rebounding advantage.
“The Spurs put you in tough positions,” Portland coach Tiago Splitter said. “Against them, you’ve got to shoot the ball well from 3s. We didn’t. We’ve got to shoot the ball better.”
The Spurs for their part shot 40-84 (48%) from the field and 15-33 (45%) from beyond the arc.
Wemby Gets Defensive Player of the Year
The kid called it. What seemed like brash braggadocio at the time has now come to fruition.
San Antonio’s very own Victor Wembanyama, a finalist for this year’s league MVP, was named this season’s Defensive Player of the Year Monday night.
Since coming into the League V-Dub has been an absolute menace on defense averaging a little over three blocks per game. The extraordinary Frenchman is the first player in history to win the award unanimously and fulfills a bold prediction he made as a rookie.
“I know that Rudy has a very good chance of winning it this year, and it would be deserved,” Wembanyama said at the time. “Let him win it now, because after that, it’s no longer his turn.”
Today that became reality with many more to come.
“I’m super proud to be the first ever unanimous [winner],” Wembanyama told NBC Sports after winning the award. … “My shot-blocking is something I’ve been working on forever. It’s probably the area of my game where I feel most comfortable at.”
It’s not just about the kid’s shot blocking ability however. Opposing players with the ball have to account for V-Dub and his 8-foot wingspan, whether attacking the rim, pulling up from the mid-range or even on the perimeter. His presence on the court naturally changes what opposing teams can do offensively.
Wembanyama; 22, is the youngest player in history to win DPOY. He’s also the Spurs’ first DPOY winner since former Spur Kawhi Leonard won in back-to-back seasons (2014-15, 2015-16), a trend Wembanyama hopes to extend perhaps with even more consecutive victories.
Congratulations to V-Dub and the Spurs organization for this award as they look to add the Larry O’Brien Trophy to their coffers to conclude a fantastic season.
Up Next:
Game 2 vs Portland
Tuesday April 21 @ 7pm
NBC/Peacock
Spurs lead 1-0
