San Antonio Spurs centre Victor Wembanyama has been named the NBA’s defensive player of the year.
The 7ft 4in France international is the first unanimous winner in the award’s 43-year history having secured all 100 of the first-place votes.
At 22, he is the youngest player to win the award and the second to win it within their first three seasons, after Spurs legend David Robinson (1991-92).
Wembanyama was the first overall draft pick in 2023 and has led the league in blocks (3.1 per game) for the third straight season.
The two-time All-Star also averaged career highs in points (25.0) and rebounds (11.5), and claimed a steal per game.
“I’m super, super happy to win this award and actually super proud to be the first ever unanimous [winner],” he told NBC.
Oklahoma City Thunder’s Chet Holmgren finished second with 239 points (76 second-place votes), while Ausar Thompson of the Detroit Pistons was third with 60 points (nine second-place votes).
Wembanyama, who is also a Most Valuable Player contender, helped San Antonio post the second-best record in the regular season (62-20) and their defence was ranked third overall.
German NBA legend Dirk Nowitzki told AFP: “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.”