Victor Wembanyama On Rudy Gobert Deserving DPOY: “Let Him Win It Now Because After That It’s No Longer His Turn”

Victor Wembanyama got real on Rudy Gobert winning the 2023-24 DPOY while sending a warning for the future.

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Credit: Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports

San Antonio Spurs’ rookie Victor Wembanyama got real on this year’s Defensive Player of the Year race, admitting that countryman Rudy Gobert should win his fourth DPOY honor this season. However, Wemby also dropped a clear message for the future.

“I know that Rudy (Gobert) has a very good chance of winning it this year, and it would be deserved. Let him win it now because after that it’s no longer his turn.” 

Gobert is averaging 13.7 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks this season. While his defensive numbers aren’t as eye-popping compared to his time on the Jazz, he has led the Wolves to the best defense in the NBA and kept them as one of the top seeds in the West all year. 

Gobert likely wouldn’t have won the award in other years with this performance, but there is no clear contender. The two other best defensive players in the NBA have been Anthony Davis and Victor Wembanyama himself, with both players being on teams with unimpressive team records. Other contenders like Bam Adebayo suffer from a similar fate.

This would be Gobert’s fourth DPOY honor if he ends up winning the award, solidifying his name as one of the greatest defenders the game has ever seen. It would tie Rudy for most DPOY wins of all time with Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace.


Victor Wembanyama Is Eyeing A Lot Of DPOY’s In The Future

Victor Wembanyama has already shown the world that he is a DPOY-caliber player as a rookie. He likely will receive an All-Defense selection despite the Spurs being rooted to the bottom spot in the West, but that’s because his defense has been exceptional. 

Wemby leads the NBA in total blocks as a rookie with 197. He’s averaging 20.7 points, 10.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 3.4 blocks, and 1.3 steals, proving to be an all-around threat as a defensive player. He’s a naturally weak on-ball defender due to his size compared to shifty NBA guards, but his gigantic frame and wingspan allow him to be far more competitive in those situations than expected.

His freakish wingspan and elite anticipation of the ball allow him to be a menace in passing lanes. Wembanyama is already pulling off incredible feats, like achieving the first 5×5 stat line in the NBA since Jusuf Nurkic in 2019. He’s also been near a quadruple-double a couple of times, showing his ability to easily be a player that can get 10 blocks in a game.

If the Spurs were even a playoff team, Wembanyama could have won the DPOY as a rookie, which would be a historic feat. But unless his performances lead to wins, Wemby will find himself on the losing end of awards like this for the foreseeable future.

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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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