The 2024-25 season award races will soon heat up as we enter the final quarter of the season after the NBA All-Star break. While fans have been aware of the fierce nature of some of these award battles, most people believe the Defensive Player of the Year award is a foregone conclusion. San Antonio Spurs‘ center Victor Wembanyama is heavily favored to win the award, which has upset some other NBA stars as well.
After Los Angeles Lakers‘ center Anthony Davis said that the NBA is pushing Wembanyama to win the DPOY, the 20-year-old center gave the perfect mature response to the media.
“I really don’t care about individual accolades. If I end up being Defensive Player of the Year, it means I’ve helped my team on that side of the court. It means I’ve done my best and I’ve been rewarded for it, but at the end of the day the best reward is the wins.”
“Even though it feels unfair… All these things, I’m not gonna use excuses for it. You asked me about it and I’m being honest, I’m not gonna say, ‘Oh, yeah, it’s perfect… I’m a player, I’m never gonna use anything as an excuse, I’m always gonna try to be the better man, do the extra effort,”
Asked Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama for his response to Lakers Anthony Davis comments stating if he wins DPOY, it would be due to an NBA “Narrative” being pushed:
“I really don’t care about individual accolades..if I win DPOY, it means I’ve helped my team..”
Full answer:… pic.twitter.com/gyunXv0tKh
— Carolina Teague (@CTtheMicSlayer) January 30, 2025
Wembanyama is averaging 24.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.9 blocks, and 1.1 steals this season, far ahead of anyone else in steals and blocks. Davis has never won a DPOY in his career but is averaging 25.7 points, 11.9 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 2.1 blocks this season. His numbers don’t compare to Wembanyama’s, but Davis would like it if his winning impact was recognized.
Davis’ comments came in an interview with ESPN and his words clearly hurt the young French center.
“Defensive Player of the Year… I feel the narrative is being pushed for Wemby to get it, right. He’s averaging, what, like four blocks or something crazy like that, but then it goes back to, are we talking about just blocks? I don’t know how anything works anymore.”
The Lakers have a much better record this season: 27-19, compared to the Spurs’ 20-24. Davis is a better player when it comes to winning impact, but Wembanyama might be the single-most impactful defensive presence in the league due to his size and movement ability. It’s also important to know that the Spurs’ roster is far less competitive than the Lakers.
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