Victor Wembanyama Responds To Anthony Davis’ DPOY ‘Narrative’ Statement With Maturity

Victor Wembanyama made it clear that Anthony Davis' comments about narratives dominating the NBA DPOY race won't bother him.

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Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn

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,”

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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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher ReportYahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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