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Wembanyama Unanimous DPOY; Barnes Finishes Fifth
21 Apr
Summary
- Victor Wembanyama was a unanimous winner of the 2026 NBA Defensive Player of the Year award.
- Scottie Barnes secured fifth place in the DPOY voting, a career-best achievement.
- Barnes' strong DPOY showing positions him for potential All-Defensive Team selection.
Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs was crowned the 2026 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, making history as the first player to receive a unanimous vote for the award. Rounding out the top five were Chet Holmgren, Ausar Thompson, Rudy Gobert, and Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes. Barnes' fifth-place finish marks a significant career milestone, highlighting his emergence as an elite defender. This achievement strongly suggests Barnes will be selected for the NBA All-Defensive first or second team, earning his first official league-wide defensive recognition.
