San Antonio Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama recently became the first unanimous and youngest winner of the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award. The 22-year-old Spurs phenom has already solidified himself as one of the league’s most impactful players.
Wembanyama’s upside is undeniable, but his durability remains a critical factor in his long-term outlook, with his concussion in Tuesday’s Game 2 of the playoffs against the Portland Trail Blazers serving as a reminder.
Which begs the question: Can Wembanyama become the greatest defensive player of all time?
Phenomenal defensive production signals the rise of generational talent Victor Wembanyama
Wembanyama led the Spurs to the second seed in the Western Conference, averaging 25 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and a league-leading 3.1 blocks.
The Frenchman, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, tallied 197 blocks and anchored a defense that boasted the third-best defensive rating (110.4) in the regular season. He also earned an individual defensive rating of 103.6 (fourth in the league).
But he wasn’t always stellar defensively. “I took that personally,” Wembanyama said with a laugh, per The Athletic on April 21. “And the rest is history.”
Wembanyama uses his entire 7-foot-4 frame to be an elite rim protector and guard effectively on the perimeter as well. He led the league in opponent field-goal percentage (40.7), a testament to how disruptive he can be in the paint.
Wembanyama is only the second player to win the coveted DPOY award in his third season, along with former Spurs center David Robinson.
Can Victor Wembanyama reach defensive immortality?
The NBA has seen a bevy of all-time great defenders, including Ben Wallace, Scottie Pippen, Dikembe Mutombo, Rudy Gobert, Hakeem Olajuwon, Tim Duncan and Bill Russell.
Wallace won an NBA-record four Defensive Player of the Year awards, tied with Gobert (now with the Minnesota Timberwolves) and Mutombo. The Virginia Union grad used his sheer power and lateral quickness to become one of the all-time great defenders. He led the league in defensive win shares for four consecutive seasons.
Pippen was a legendary perimeter defender, capable of guarding all five positions. The 1995 steals leader frequently disrupted passing lanes and put immense pressure on ballhandlers. Even though Pippen never won the Defensive Player of the Year award, his reputation as a storied defender still rings true.
Olajuwon, a two-time Defensive Player of the Year, showcased elite rim protection and quick footwork to stay in front of opponents. Because of his supreme agility and 7-foot frame, he is regarded as one of the greatest defensive players in league history.
Duncan, though never a Defensive Player of the Year, built his stature on positioning and rim protecting and led San Antonio to five NBA championships.
Russell, meanwhile, never had the opportunity to win Defensive Player of the Year, as the award was not established until 1983. However, he revolutionized defense with his amazing shot-blocking and leadership abilities. Russell, who won 11 NBA titles, is touted as the greatest rim protector in league history.
Wembanyama still has a long way to go before joining that company, but the superstar has a legitimate chance to become one of the greatest defenders in NBA history — as long as he can stay healthy. In three seasons, he has played in 71, 46 and 64 regular-season games, respectively.
The Spurs will play the Trail Blazers in Game 3 in Portland on Friday night. Wembanyama remains in the concussion protocol.