As the NBA regular season comes to an end, fans and analysts are starting to speculate on their picks for individual awards. The NBA DPOY is among the award categories that have people’s attention these days.
With that being said, Victor Wembanyama is one of the top contenders for the award, along with the 3x DPOY award winner and a fellow native Frenchman, Rudy Gobert. In a recent press conference with the San Antonio Spurs, Wemby shared his views about the 3X DPOY award winner, making a bold statement about the future versions of the award.
Victor Wembanyama warns Rudy Gobert on deserving DPOY
The San Antonio Spurs superstar and Rookie of the Year candidate, Victor Wembanyama, is also contending for the DPOY award. The rookie was asked about his native countryman, Rudy Gobert of the Minnesota Timberwolves, and the fact that he’s currently on top of the DPOY ladder. Wemby told the press that it’s fine if Gobert wins the Defensive Player of the Year award for the fourth time over him.
Wemby said this to the press, followed by a bold statement that, after this award, he won’t get another chance to win. Wemby said, “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.”
Rudy Gobert has won the DPOY honor three times already in 2018, ’19, and ’21, and is currently on top of winning it for the fourth time. Gobert is averaging 13.7 ppg, 12.9 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game.
Draymond Green claims Victor Wembanyama is among the top 20 NBA players
The 4x NBA Champion Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors shared his hot take about Victor Wembanyama on his podcast, “The Draymond Green Show,” saying that he considers Wemby one of the top 20 players in the NBA right now.
On his podcast, Green said, “Victor Wembanyama is probably a top-20 player in the NBA right now. With that skill set, with that length, with that jump shot, his jump shot is absolutely beautiful. In San Antonio with that staff, that kid, watch out. This is no stray at all.”
Green is a former 2017 DPOY, so his take on Wemby makes more sense. Wembanyama is currently leading the league in blocks per game with 3.4 and is one of the primary defenders in the NBA, making his mark since his first NBA season ever.
With more experience in the league and constant improvement, Victor Wembanyama might become the most brutal defender in the NBA soon.
