All articles tagged with #defensive player of the year
Victor Wembanyama was named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year in a unanimous vote, underscoring his impact on the Spurs’ defense as they begin a first-round playoff series against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Victor Wembanyama, at age 22, becomes the youngest player ever to win NBA Defensive Player of the Year and the first unanimous DPOY, anchoring the San Antonio Spurs with elite rim protection (3.1 blocks per game, 197 total) and standout defensive metrics. He tops a voting field that included Chet Holmgren (2nd) and Ausar Thompson (3rd) among 13 players who received votes, marking the fourth Spurs player to win DPOY in franchise history.
Victor Wembanyama was named the 2025-26 Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year, becoming the youngest winner and the NBA’s first unanimous DPOY. The 22-year-old Spurs center led the league in blocked shots for a third straight season, cementing his defensive dominance and Spurs’ place in DPOY history, while remaining an MVP finalist as other awards are announced.
The NBA announced finalists for the 2025-26 season’s major awards: MVP finalists Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokić and Victor Wembanyama; DPOY finalists Chet Holmgren, Wembanyama and Ausar Thompson; ROTY contenders Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel and VJ Edgecombe; Sixth Man finalists Tim Hardaway Jr., Keldon Johnson and Jaime Jaquez Jr.; COY finalists J.B. Bickerstaff, Mitch Johnson and Joe Mazzulla; MIP finalists Jalen Duren, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Deni Avdija; Clutch finalists Anthony Edwards, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jamal Murray. Luka Dončić and Cade Cunningham are eligible for awards despite not meeting the 65-game threshold, and ESPN’s straw poll shows SGA as the MVP favorite, with a tight ROTY race between Flagg and Knueppel.
Victor Wembanyama erupted for 40 points and 13 rebounds in 26 minutes as the Spurs topped Dallas 139-120, reaching the 65-game threshold that makes him eligible for end-of-season awards. The milestone sparked debate over the league’s threshold rule for MVP/DPOY and whether minutes should matter as much as games. San Antonio’s season finale vs. Denver carries big implications for playoff positioning and potential awards consequences.
Victor Wembanyama scored 40 points with 13 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 blocks to power the Spurs past the Mavericks 139-120, silencing doubts about his playoff health and underscoring a strong two-way presence as San Antonio positions itself for a deep postseason run. De’Aaron Fox fueled the third-quarter surge, with Carter Bryant and Cooper Flagg contributing, while seeding implications loom as the Spurs eye potential second-round matchups against the Lakers or Timberwolves and a possible Nuggets test.
Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett was unanimously named the 2025 AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year at NFL Honors after delivering an NFL-record 23 sacks, plus 33 tackles for loss and 39 QB hits, guiding a standout, league-leading pass rush despite the Browns’ 5-12 season; this marks Garrett’s second DPOY award and cements his status among the game's all-time greats.
Analysts preview the AP awards for the 2025 NFL Honors, naming Matthew Stafford as the MVP front-runner with Drake Maye close behind, Myles Garrett as the top defensive player, Tetairoa McMillan as the Offensive Rookie of the Year front-runner, Carson Schwesinger as the Defensive Rookie of the Year leader, Christian McCaffrey as the Comeback Player of the Year front-runner, and Mike Vrabel and Klint Kubiak leading the Coach of the Year and Assistant Coach of the Year ballots.
Myles Garrett is one of five edge rushers named as NFL Defensive Player of the Year finalists—Will Anderson, Nik Bonitto, Aidan Hutchinson and Micah Parsons join him. Garrett set the single-season sack record with 23; Hutchinson had 14.5, Bonitto 14, Parsons 12.5, and Anderson 12, with the winner to be revealed at the NFL Honors; analysts note the lineup leans heavily toward pass rushers.
Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve cleverly responded to Becky Hammon's dismissive comments about the co-Defensive Player of the Year award, highlighting her pride in Alanna Smith's achievement and questioning the media's defensive expertise. The award was shared by Smith and A'ja Wilson, with Reeve's witty remark adding to the playoff drama.
Pat Surtain II, a second-generation NFL star and reigning Defensive Player of the Year, has built a remarkable career with the Denver Broncos, following in his father Pat Surtain Sr.'s footsteps. From childhood in Florida to college at Alabama and now in the NFL, Surtain's journey highlights his talent, humility, and dedication, with family and legacy playing a central role in his success.
In a primetime NFL matchup, T.J. Watt's lackluster performance against the Cleveland Browns may have cost him the Defensive Player of the Year award, according to Good Morning Football's Kyle Brandt. While Myles Garrett shone brightly, Watt struggled to make an impact, leading Brandt to believe that Watt's chances for the award are now over. National games heavily influence voter narratives, and Watt's quiet game on such a stage could be detrimental to his DPOY bid.
Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns emphasized his dominance as the NFL's top defensive player following a victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he outperformed rival T.J. Watt. Despite Watt's past success, Garrett claimed the Defensive Player of the Year award for 2023, sparking a competitive rivalry. Garrett's performance in the game, including three sacks, bolstered his claim as the league's premier edge defender, while Watt did not record a sack. Garrett's post-game comments highlighted his desire to assert his status as the best in the league.
Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns humorously suggested that T.J. Watt of the Pittsburgh Steelers should apologize for not congratulating him on winning the Defensive Player of the Year award, which Watt had won the previous year. Despite Watt's impressive stats, including leading the league in sacks, Garrett took the award, sparking discussions on the role of traditional stats versus advanced metrics in evaluating players. Both players emphasize team success over personal rivalry as they prepare to face off in an upcoming game.
At the midpoint of the 2024 NFL season, key players and coaches are emerging as frontrunners for major awards. Lamar Jackson is leading the MVP race with impressive stats, while Derrick Henry and Saquon Barkley are strong contenders for Offensive Player of the Year. On defense, Xavier McKinney and Fred Warner are making their cases for Defensive Player of the Year. Jayden Daniels is a standout for Offensive Rookie of the Year, and Jared Verse is a top candidate for Defensive Rookie of the Year. Dan Quinn is a leading candidate for Coach of the Year, having transformed the Washington Commanders into contenders.