Last year, Victor Wembanyama congratulated Rudy Gobert on his Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) win and claimed it would be his last one. Throughout the first few months of this season, Wemby has proven he will likely win several DPOY awards in his career. This season might be his first one.
Wemby is a DPOY Favorite and One Stat Proves It
Through the first several months of this season, Victor Wembanyama is doing something that previous winners have rarely managed to do. That is to have almost double the amount of blocks than personal fouls. Wemby’s ability to dominate defensively without racking up fouls is amazing. Wemby is averaging 3.9 blocks and one steal per game, while only committing 2.1 fouls per contest.
That level of defensive activity, combined with restraint is unheard of. Wemby is one of the most disruptive players in the league, contesting shots at the rim and poking the ball loose on the perimeter. At the same time, he is avoiding foul trouble, an exceptional skill few active defensive players possess.
Last night against the Nuggets, Wembanyama had a clutch defensive play on the best player in the league, Nikola Jokic, in the closing seconds. While he did commit five fouls in the game, he was still not afraid to contest the shot and avoid any contact.
Wemby Blocks Shots at Astonishing Rate
Two years ago, Jaren Jackson Jr. won the Defensive Player of the Year Award by averaging three blocks and one steal per game. At the same time though, he averaged 3.6 fouls per game. Wemby is averaging 3.9 blocks per game and 1.5 less fouls then Jackson Jr. did. NBA players have averaged more than three blocks per game, but they rarely have shown such great restraint from fouling as Wemby. Last season, he averaged 3.6 blocks with 1.2 steals and 2.2 personal fouls per game.
Wemby Doesn’t Foul
As a rookie, the Spurs’ phenom showed remarkable discipline on the defensive end, something not usual for young players. In his first NBA season, he fouled out. Here is an impressive stat from his rookie year. He had only one foul 20 times and was foul-free in seven games. That is pure basketball IQ on the defensive end, not just discipline and talent.
For example, Anthony Davis led the league in blocks in his second season, averaging 2.8 per game. He also averaged 1.3 steals, but three fouls per game. AD had a similar defensive presence in his youth, and is always mentioned among the best defensive players in the league. Unlike Wemby, he had a higher tendency of fouling opponents early in his career.
Comparing Wemby to Former DPOY Winners
To understand how much impact Wembanyama has on the defensive floor, we can compare his stats on the season to the stats of former DPOY winners. It gives a clearer picture of how dominant he is on that end of the floor, without fouling.
- Rudy Gobert, 2023-24 season, 2.1 blocks, 0.7 steals, 3.1 personal fouls per game.
- Jaren Jackson Jr. 2022-23 season, 3.0 blocks, 1.0 steals, and 3.6 fouls per game.
- Marcus Smart, 2021-22 season, 1.7 steals, 0.3 blocks, and 2.2 fouls per game.
- Rudy Gobert, 2020-21 season, 2.7 blocks, 0.6 steals and 2.3 fouls per game.
- Giannis Antetokounmpo, 2019-20 season, a block and a steal, and 3.1 fouls per game.
- Draymond Green, 2016-17 season, 1.4 blocks, 2 steals, and 2.9 fouls per game.
- Joakim Noah, 2013-14 season, 1.5 blocks, 1.2 steals, and 3.1 fouls per game.
- Marc Gasol, 2012-13 season, 1.7 blocks, 1 steal, and 3.2 fouls per game.
- Tyson Chandler, 2011-12 season, 1.4 blocks, 0.9 steals, and three fouls per game.
Wemby Has a Chance at History
Only six players in league history have won both MVP and a DPOY Award, and Wemby has a chance at both in his career. Only three players have won both awards in the same season. Just recently, Wembanyama got into the top-five of the KIA MVP Award Ladder for the first time.
Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Antetokounmpo are the only players who have won both awards in the same season.
