In what should come as a shock to almost no one, Victor Wembanyama is your 2025–26 Defensive Player of the Year. And, for the first time ever, the vote was unanimous; the San Antonio center beat out fellow finalists Ausar Thompson of the Pistons and Chet Holmgren of the Thunder entirely, and at 22 is also the youngest player to ever win the award.
Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix was among the voters to select Wembanyama.
