Is there anything Victor Wembanyama can’t do? NBA experts are already lining up to predict a huge honor for the San Antonio Spurs sensation in the 2025-26 season. After an injury-shortened sophomore year, Wembanyama’s defensive prowess has analysts convinced he’s on the fast track to a major award. Could he make history and become the youngest ever to achieve this feat?
The dawn of a new NBA era, dominated by exceptional international talent, is seeing its newest phenom, Victor Wembanyama, poised for unprecedented recognition. Esteemed NBA experts are unanimously predicting the San Antonio Spurs star will capture a major award, specifically the coveted Defensive Player of the Year title, during the highly anticipated 2025-26 season.
This current league landscape has witnessed a remarkable influx of global superstars, with the last five MVP honors going to non-American players, a trend largely headlined by three-time MVP Nikola Jokic. Wembanyama, a towering presence from France, perfectly embodies this international shift, showcasing skills rarely seen in a player of his stature and age.
The San Antonio Spurs secured a generational talent by landing the top overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, enabling them to select the 7-foot-3 French sensation. While the Spurs boast a rich history of iconic players like Tim Duncan, David Robinson, and Kawhi Leonard, many within the basketball world believe Victor Wembanyama possesses the raw potential to etch his name even higher in the annals of franchise and league history.
At a mere 21 years old, Wembanyama has already firmly established himself as one of the elite players in the NBA. His sophomore campaign with the Spurs, though curtailed, saw him average an astounding 24.3 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.1 steals, and an incredible 3.8 blocks per game, demonstrating his multifaceted impact on both ends of the court.
Unfortunately, Wembanyama’s promising 2024-25 season was cut short due to a deep vein thrombosis diagnosis, preventing him from playing after the All-Star break and limiting him to just 46 games. Despite this setback, he was widely considered the runaway favorite to win NBA Defensive Player of the Year, an achievement that would have made him the youngest recipient in league history.
Historically, Dwight Howard holds the record as the youngest Defensive Player of the Year winner, securing the award at 23 during the 2008-09 season. Several other defensive stalwarts also claimed the honor at 23, but Victor Wembanyama has a clear path to win it at 22, showcasing his truly unique defensive prowess and advanced understanding of the game.
A recent poll among NBA experts predicting the award winners for the 2025-26 season overwhelmingly favored Wembanyama DPOY. He garnered an impressive 95 vote points for the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award, significantly outpacing contenders like Cleveland Cavaliers’ Evan Mobley, who finished with 31 points. Chet Holmgren, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Rudy Gobert completed the top-five.
ESPN’s Michael C. Wright emphatically stated, “Despite playing in just 46 games last season, Wembanyama led the league in blocks (176) by a wide margin over second-place finisher Brook Lopez (148 blocks). Plus, he averaged 1.1 steals for a Spurs defense that owned a defensive rating of 115.4 with him on the floor (121.4 without).” Wright concluded, “If Victor Wembanyama plays in league-required 65 games this season, it would be a surprise if he didn’t snatch the award by a landslide.”
The stage is clearly set for the San Antonio Spurs’ phenom. With his unparalleled defensive skills and offensive versatility, all NBA predictions point to Victor Wembanyama not only continuing his meteoric rise but also securing the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award, cementing his status as a cornerstone of the league and a beacon of future Basketball news.
