We have by no means seen something like him.
By the tip of his rookie season, at age 20, Victor Wembanyama was already one of many handful of greatest defenders within the NBA. He was second in Defensive Participant of the Yr voting, led the league in blocks, and was First Group All-Protection.
This season he will take a large leap ahead — one bought the primary style of that through the Paris Olympics — and saying he will change into the youngest participant ever to win Defensive Participant of the Yr feels just like the secure decide. My prediction:
2024-25 NBA Defensive Participant of the Yr:
1. Victor Wembanyama
2. Anthony Davis
3. Rudy Gobert
I anticipate Wembanyama will likely be a runaway winner right here — can he common greater than 4 blocks a recreation? His 8-foot wingspan additionally results in a whole lot of steals — however different gamers will get within the dialog.
I’ve the Lakers’ Davis second however might have simply plugged within the Warmth’s Bam Adebayo into that very same spot, each are elite defenders however how they fare in voting will depend upon the identical factor: How good are their crew defenses? No person goes to vote to offer the DPOY to a participant whose crew is within the backside half of the league in protection (and each the Warmth and Lakers might find yourself there).
If a superb crew protection helps with DPOY voting, who will get a lift? Do not depart off the earlier youngest DPOY winner ever — Jaren Jackson Jr. of the Memphis Grizzlies (he received at age 23 in his fifth season). If Memphis bounces again to a top-six end within the West their protection may have so much to do with it and Jackson is an elite defender.
Chet Holmgren in Oklahoma Metropolis will get votes if the Thunder protection is within the high 5, as anticipated. Gobert is an elite defender and can at all times be within the combine, and the identical is true of Giannis Antetokounmpo, who could possibly be within the working for the award. If Dallas’ protection thrives this season one other second-year participant, Dereck Vigorous II, might get a glance from voters. The identical is true in New York, if their protection is elite one of many wings.
Betting Defensive Participant of the Yr
From NBC Sports’ Vaughn’s Dalzell, that is his favourite NBA Futures wager:
Victor Wembanyama to win NBA Defensive Participant of the Yr (-180)
Victor Wembanayama proved in his rookie season that he’s a generational expertise and can change the sport in so some ways if you happen to do not imagine so, watch his uncommon 27-point, 14-rebound, and 10-block triple-double in opposition to the Raptors — it will change your thoughts.
Specializing in his protection solely, Wemby impacts the sport in much more methods than simply shot-blocking however that’s arguably probably the most highlight-worthy a part of his recreation. Wemby led the league with 3.6 blocks per recreation and 254 total (24 video games with a minimum of 5 blocks). His 254 blocks are probably the most since Hassan Whiteside in 2015-16 over 73 video games (269).
Wemy’s 8-foot wingspan permits him to make opponents second-guess taking a shot routinely and the passing lanes are minimal when he is close by. He completed high 50 in defensive internet score (111.2), tied twenty first in steals (88), and tied twenty second in steals per recreation (1.2).
This yr, I predict a 300-block and 100-steal season for Wemby, together with a Defensive Participant of the Yr trophy. The San Antonio star can be the primary participant since Spurs’ David Robinson (1991-92) and the Rockets’ Hakeem Olajuwon (1992-93) to perform this.
Robinson posted 300 blocks and 100 steals in his first three seasons within the NBA (1989-90, 90-91, 91-92), whereas Olajuwon completed this feat 3 times over 4 seasons (1989-90, 91-92, 92-93). Robinson received DPOY in 1991-92, whereas Olajuwon received back-to-back in 1992-93 and 1993-94. Nobody apart from Wemby can submit a majority of these numbers 30 years later.
