Victor Wembanyama named NBA defensive player of the year in unanimous vote
via The Namibian5 min read
San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama has been named the NBA's defensive player of the year, becoming the first unanimous winner in the award's 43-year history. The France international received a perfect 100 votes in the media ballot. At 22, Wembanyama is the youngest player to win this honor. He led the league in blocks per game for a third consecutive season with 3.08 and contributed to the Spurs achieving the No. 3 ranking in defensive ratings. Wembanyama scored 35 points, grabbed five rebounds, and made two blocks in his first postseason game against the Portland Trail Blazers. German basketball legend Dirk Nowitzki praised Wembanyama, stating he is "changing the game as we speak" and that his defense is so effective it alters the game just by his presence on the court. Wembanyama attributed his success to his teammates and the Spurs coaching staff, emphasizing the team aspect of his achievement.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Namibian.
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