Last year, Wembanyama looked set to claim the Defensive Player of the Year trophy in just his second NBA season, but an injury that ended his campaign right after the All-Star Game kept him out of contention, due to the 65-game rule.
This time, it was hard to see how the trophy could slip away from him.
Named as one of the three finalists alongside Chet Holmgren (Oklahoma City Thunder) and Ausar Thompson (Detroit Pistons), he was the overwhelming favorite.
Logic prevailed, and for the first time, the award was given unanimously, as he also became the youngest player ever to win it at 22 years old.
Wemby continues to make history
In his third NBA season, Wembanyama has now collected his second individual trophy. The first, of course, was the Rookie of the Year title in 2024, which he also won unanimously. Not to mention, he finished second in the Defensive Player of the Year voting behind another Frenchman, Rudy Gobert, who claimed the award for the fourth time in his career, tying Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace for the most DPOY titles. That record now seems well within reach for "Wemby."
The French center also becomes the fourth player in San Antonio Spurs history to win this award, after Alvin Robertson, David Robinson, and Kawhi Leonard, the only one to have won it twice. Until next year?
But above all, is this just the beginning of a trophy haul for Wemby?
Last night, he was also named a finalist for the most prestigious award of all, Most Valuable Player, alongside reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and three-time MVP Nikola Jokic.
SGA is set to win back-to-back MVPs, but the hype around Wembanyama at the end of the season was huge.
So, maybe?
Defensive Player of the Year winners
2025 Evan Mobley (Cleveland Cavaliers)
2024 Rudy Gobert (Minnesota Timberwolves)
2023 Jaren Jackson Jr. (Memphis Grizzlies)
2022 Marcus Smart (Boston Celtics)
2021 Rudy Gobert (Utah Jazz)
2020 Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks)
2019 Rudy Gobert (Utah Jazz)
2018 Rudy Gobert (Utah Jazz)
2017 Draymond Green (Golden State Warriors)
2016 Kawhi Leonard (San Antonio Spurs)
2015 Kawhi Leonard (San Antonio Spurs)
2014 Joakim Noah (Chicago Bulls)
2013 Marc Gasol (Memphis Grizzlies)
2012 Tyson Chandler (New York Knicks)
2011 Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic)
2010 Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic)
2009 Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic)
2008 Kevin Garnett (Boston Celtics)
2007 Marcus Camby (Denver Nuggets)
2006 Ben Wallace (Detroit Pistons)
2005 Ben Wallace (Detroit Pistons)
2004 Ron Artest (Indiana Pacers)
2003 Ben Wallace (Detroit Pistons)
2002 Ben Wallace (Detroit Pistons)
2001 Dikembe Mutombo (Philadelphia 76ers)
2000 Alonzo Mourning (Miami Heat)
1999 Alonzo Mourning (Miami Heat)
1998 Dikembe Mutombo (Atlanta Hawks)
1997 Dikembe Mutombo (Atlanta Hawks)
1996 Gary Payton (Seattle SuperSonics)
1995 Dikembe Mutombo (Denver Nuggets)
1994 Hakeem Olajuwon (Houston Rockets)
1993 Hakeem Olajuwon (Houston Rockets)
1992 David Robinson (San Antonio Spurs)
1991 Dennis Rodman (Detroit Pistons)
1990 Dennis Rodman (Detroit Pistons)
1989 Mark Eaton (Utah Jazz)
1988 Michael Jordan (Chicago Bulls)
1987 Michael Cooper (Los Angeles Lakers)
1986 Alvin Robertson (San Antonio Spurs)
1985 Mark Eaton (Utah Jazz)
1984 Sidney Moncrief (Milwaukee Bucks)
1983 Sidney Moncrief (Milwaukee Bucks)