San Antonio Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama made history this week as the NBA’s first unanimous Defensive Player of the Year winner.
According to Boston Celtics champion and ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins, the French shot-blocker is just getting warmed up.
During a Road Trippin’ podcast appearance, Perkins heaped praise on the Spurs star and called him a shoo-in to repeat as Defensive Player of the Year.
“He’s going to win the next five or six straight. If he’s on the floor, he’s going to win the next five or six straight [Defensive Player of the Year award races].”
Perkins added that Wembanyama is a generational defender who can single-handedly dominate that end of the floor.
“I’ve never seen anything like [Wemby]. He is a system in itself on the defensive side of things. And I’m predicting right now, he’s going to win the next five Defensive Player of the Year awards.”
Wemby Relishes Historic Award Win
GettyWemby is the first unanimous DPOY winner in NBA history
Wembanyama, who led the league in blocks in each of his three NBA seasons, beat out finalists Chet Holmgren and Ausar Thompson for the coveted DPOY award.
Following his historic win, Wemby expressed gratitude.
“I’m super proud to be the first ever unanimous [winner],” Wembanyama told NBC Sports after winning the award. “My shot-blocking is something I’ve been working on forever. It’s probably the area of my game where I fell most comfortable at.”
Since entering the league, Wemby has led the league in blocks per game and total blocks. This includes last season, when his campaign was cut short due to blood clots.
He is one of just three players in NBA history to block a shot in 100+ games.
The 7-foot-4 phenom predicted he would secure Defensive Player of the Year after fellow French center Rudy Gobert took home the award in his rookie season.
“I know that Rudy has a very good chance of winning it this year, and it would be deserved,” Wembanyama said. “Let him win it now, because after that, it’s no longer his turn.”
Spurs Praise Wemby’s Lockdown Defense
GettyVictor Wembanyama celebrates award win with teammates
Wemby is the first Spurs player to secure the prized award since Kawhi Leonard did so in back-to-back seasons (2014-15 and 2015-16), a feat Wemby hopes to replicate.
As the defensive anchor for a Spurs team that finished with the second-best defensive rating in the league (110.4), Wembanyama led the NBA in blocks (197) for the third consecutive season and recorded 66 steals.
“He deters people from even shooting the ball,” Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox said. “You talk about guys that change shots. He literally negates guys even shooting the ball. They’ll see him in there and dribble the ball out or kick out. He changes the whole dynamic of your defense. He changes the dynamic of other team’s offense.”
Hopefully, for the sake of the Spurs’ title hopes, Wemby can return to the lineup and shore up the defense once more.
The All-Star center left Game 2 after crashing into the floor head-first, resulting in a concussion.
ESPN insider Shams Charania provided a promising update that the French big man may be able to suit up in Game 3.
“I’m told Victor Wembanyama was able to participate in cardio work here late Wednesday because his symptoms didn’t worsen,” he stated. “He wasn’t feeling worse than he did when he suffered that concussion.”
“He is hopeful that he’ll be able to travel with the team to Portland on Thursday. Whether he’s able to clear concussion protocol in time to play in Game 3 on Friday in Portland is an obvious question and jeopardy for the Spurs.”
Game 3 will tip off at 10:30 ET on Friday, April 24, at the Moda Center. Prime Video will livestream the playoff matchup.
Celtics Champion Guarantees Wemby Will Win Next Five DPOY Awards