Victor Wembanyama named 2026 Defensive Player of the Year award, past winners list
Victor Wembanyama Named NBA Defensive Player of the Year – First Unanimous Winner in Award History
San Antonio Spurs centre Victor Wembanyama has been awarded the NBA Defensive Player of the Year for the 2025-26 season, becoming the first player in the award’s 43-year history to receive 100% of the votes.The 22-year-old French international secured all 100 first-place votes, making the victory unanimous. He is the youngest player ever to win the honour and only the second to claim it within his first three seasons in the league, following Spurs legend David Robinson in 1991-92.
Dominant Defensive Season
Drafted first overall in 2023, Wembanyama has continued his remarkable trajectory. He led the NBA in blocks for the third consecutive season, averaging 3.1 blocks per game. He also recorded career-high averages of 25.0 points and 11.5 rebounds per game, along with 1.0 steal per contest. The two-time All-Star played a pivotal role in the Spurs’ outstanding campaign, as San Antonio finished the regular season with a 62-20 record — the second-best in the Western Conference — while their defence ranked third league-wide.
Reacting to the award, Wembanyama told NBC:
“I’m super, super happy to win this award and actually super proud to be the first ever unanimous [winner].”
Drafted first overall in 2023, Wembanyama has continued his remarkable trajectory. He led the NBA in blocks for the third consecutive season, averaging 3.1 blocks per game. He also recorded career-high averages of 25.0 points and 11.5 rebounds per game, along with 1.0 steal per contest. The two-time All-Star played a pivotal role in the Spurs’ outstanding campaign, as San Antonio finished the regular season with a 62-20 record — the second-best in the Western Conference — while their defence ranked third league-wide.
Reacting to the award, Wembanyama told NBC:
“I’m super, super happy to win this award and actually super proud to be the first ever unanimous [winner].”
Voting Results
Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs) – 100 first-place votes
Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs) – 100 first-place votes
Chet Holmgren (Oklahoma City Thunder) – 239 points (second place)
Ausar Thompson (Detroit Pistons) – 60 points (third place)
Expert Praise
German NBA icon Dirk Nowitzki praised the 7ft 4in (2.24m) phenom, stating:
“I’ve never seen anything like it. His defence is so good that he changes the game just by being on the court and taking away some of the lay-ups and twos that other teams would usually take.”
German NBA icon Dirk Nowitzki praised the 7ft 4in (2.24m) phenom, stating:
“I’ve never seen anything like it. His defence is so good that he changes the game just by being on the court and taking away some of the lay-ups and twos that other teams would usually take.”
Wembanyama is also in contention for the NBA Most Valuable Player award this season.
#KiaDPOY ! #NBAAwards #DPOY
Last Year DPOY winner: 2025 — Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers
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Also: .
This is the complete list (year by year) of all the NBA players that won the Defensive Player of the Year Award since 1983-2026.
2025-26 — Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
2024-25 — Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers
2022-23 — Jaren Jackson Jr. , Memphis Grizzlies
2021-22 — Marcus Smart, Boston Celtics
2020-21 — Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz
2019-20 — Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
2018-19 — Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz
2017-18 Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz
2016-17 - Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors
2015-16 - Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs
2014-15 - Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs
2013-14 - Joakim Noah, Chicago Bulls
2012-13 - Marc Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies
2011-12 - Tyson Chandler, New York Knicks
2010-11 - Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
2009-10 - Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
2008-09 - Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
2007-08 - Kevin Garnett, Boston Celtics
2006-07 - Marcus Camby, Denver Nuggets
2005-06 - Ben Wallace, Detroit Pistons
2004-05 - Ben Wallace, Detroit Pistons
2003-04 - Ron Artest, Indiana Pacers
2002-03 - Ben Wallace, Detroit Pistons
2001-02 - Ben Wallace, Detroit Pistons
2000-01 - Dikembe Mutombo, Philadelphia 76ers
1999-00 - Alonzo Mourning, Miami Heat
1998-99 - Alonzo Mourning, Miami Heat
1997-98 - Dikembe Mutombo, Atlanta Hawks
1996-97 - Dikembe Mutombo, Atlanta Hawks
1995-96 - Gary Payton, Seattle SuperSonics
1994-95 - Dikembe Mutombo, Denver Nuggets
1993-94 - Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets
1992-93 - Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets
1991-92 - David Robinson, San Antonio Spurs
1990-91 - Dennis Rodman, Detroit Pistons
1989-90 - Dennis Rodman, Detroit Pistons
1988-89 - Mark Eaton, Utah Jazz
1987-88 - Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls
1986-87 - Michael Cooper, Los Angeles Lakers
1985-86 - Alvin Robertson, San Antonio Spurs
1984-85 - Mark Eaton, Utah Jazz
1983-84 - Sidney Moncrief, Milwaukee Bucks
1982-83 - Sidney Moncrief, Milwaukee Bucks
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Last Year DPOY winner: 2025 — Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers
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Also: .
Full List of NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award winners 1983-2026.
This is the complete list (year by year) of all the NBA players that won the Defensive Player of the Year Award since 1983-2026.
2025-26 — Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
2024-25 — Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers
2023-24 — Rudy Gobert, Minnesota Timberwolves
2021-22 — Marcus Smart, Boston Celtics
2020-21 — Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz
2019-20 — Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
2018-19 — Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz
2017-18 Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz
2016-17 - Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors
2015-16 - Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs
2014-15 - Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs
2013-14 - Joakim Noah, Chicago Bulls
2012-13 - Marc Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies
2011-12 - Tyson Chandler, New York Knicks
2010-11 - Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
2009-10 - Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
2008-09 - Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
2007-08 - Kevin Garnett, Boston Celtics
2006-07 - Marcus Camby, Denver Nuggets
2005-06 - Ben Wallace, Detroit Pistons
2004-05 - Ben Wallace, Detroit Pistons
2003-04 - Ron Artest, Indiana Pacers
2002-03 - Ben Wallace, Detroit Pistons
2001-02 - Ben Wallace, Detroit Pistons
2000-01 - Dikembe Mutombo, Philadelphia 76ers
1999-00 - Alonzo Mourning, Miami Heat
1998-99 - Alonzo Mourning, Miami Heat
1997-98 - Dikembe Mutombo, Atlanta Hawks
1996-97 - Dikembe Mutombo, Atlanta Hawks
1995-96 - Gary Payton, Seattle SuperSonics
1994-95 - Dikembe Mutombo, Denver Nuggets
1993-94 - Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets
1992-93 - Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets
1991-92 - David Robinson, San Antonio Spurs
1990-91 - Dennis Rodman, Detroit Pistons
1989-90 - Dennis Rodman, Detroit Pistons
1988-89 - Mark Eaton, Utah Jazz
1987-88 - Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls
1986-87 - Michael Cooper, Los Angeles Lakers
1985-86 - Alvin Robertson, San Antonio Spurs
1984-85 - Mark Eaton, Utah Jazz
1983-84 - Sidney Moncrief, Milwaukee Bucks
1982-83 - Sidney Moncrief, Milwaukee Bucks
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NBA.com
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