This year’s NBA Defensive Player of the Year was Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs. Wemby became the first unanimous winner in history after receiving 100 first-place votes.
Chet Holmgren came in second, while Ausar Thompson finished third. Rudy Gobert and Scottie Barnes were also in the Top 5 in voting.
Chet Holmgren Names Best Defender in the NBA
GettyChet Holmgren #7 and Cason Wallace #22 of the Oklahoma City Thunder high five after defeating the Chicago Bulls at the United Center on October 25, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois.
With the Thunder having several days off before the second round, Holmgren had the time to appear on Serge Ibaka’s How Hungry Are You? show on YouTube.
One of the questions Ibaka asked Holmgren was who the best defender in the NBA is, and the Thunder star named a surprising player in Cason Wallace.
“I think Cason Wallace is the best defender,” Holmgren said, via HoopsHype. “If you’re looking for somebody who not only can defend on ball, but off ball in the passing lanes, he can hound you 94 feet. He can get steals, but he can also play solid and just force you to miss a shot.”
That’s a huge compliment from Holmgren to his teammate. Wallace has established himself as one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA. He finished seventh in DPOY voting this season just behind Derrick White and ahead of Amen Thompson, Dyson Daniels and OG Anunoby.
What Does Chet Holmgren Think of Victor Wembanyama?
GettyChet Holmgren #7 of the Oklahoma City Thunder fights for rebounding position with Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs in the first half at Frost Bank Center on January 24, 2024 in San Antonio, Texas.
One of the things that made the games between the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs entertaining since 2023 is the rivalry between Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren.
Wemby has seemingly made it his mission to play the best basketball of his life against Holmgren. However, the Thunder big man doesn’t look at it that way back in December during an interview with ESPN’s Malika Andrews.
“I don’t think it’s ever been up to players or teams to declare rivalries,” Holmgren said, via BasketNews. “So, you’re asking the wrong person.”
Holmgren added that he hasn’t had a real talk with Wembanyama, revealing that they haven’t even spoken a full sentence with each other.
Cason Wallace Named X-Factor
GettyCason Wallace #22 of the Oklahoma City Thunder in action during the game against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on March 18, 2026 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Thunder won 121-92.
Ahead of the 2026 NBA Playoffs, Sports Illustrated’s Grayson Buchanan called Wallace an X-factor for the defending champions.
“The Oklahoma City defense is a unit that no team ever wants to come across, and with Wallace as one of the leading men, getting past this defense in the playoffs will potentially be every team’s toughest task,” Buchanan wrote.
In the first round against the Phoenix Suns, Wallace averaged 5.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.0 steals. He’ll be tasked to provide a spark on both ends in their second-round matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers, especially with Jalen Williams still sidelined due to a hamstring strain.
Wallace will be one of the primary defenders against Austin Reaves and LeBron James. And if Luka Doncic is healthy, he’ll also likely try to slow him down.
Thunder’s Chet Holmgren Makes Surprising Pick for Best Defender in NBA