Defensive Player of the Year voting: Wernbanyama leads by a wide margin

April 21 - The NBA officially announced that San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wahlbanama has won the 2025-26 Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY). He was unanimously elected with 100 first-place votes and a total score of 500 points, becoming the first person in the award's history to do so, and also setting a new record for the youngest recipient at the age of 22.

This season, Wabbenyama continued to showcase his dominant defensive performance, leading the league in blocks for the second consecutive year ( 197 ) and contributing 66 steals, leading the Spurs to the second-best defensive efficiency in the league. He averaged 11.5 rebounds per game, including 9.5 defensive rebounds, demonstrating both rim protection and help defense capabilities.

The NBA subsequently announced the voting results for Defensive Player of the Year. Victor Wahlbanama topped the list with 100 first-place votes and a total of 500 points, achieving a historic first-ever unanimous selection. Second place went to Oklahoma City Thunder's rising star Chet Holmgren, who received 78 second-place votes and 11 third-place votes, totaling 239 points. Third place went to Detroit Pistons' Osar Thompson, who received 9 second-place votes and 33 third-place votes, totaling 60 points.

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