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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.
Barnes is currently a vital contributor to the Raptors as they compete against the Cavaliers in the first round of the NBA Eastern Conference playoffs. The Raptors, seeded fifth, faced an early deficit after losing Game 1 on the road. For the Raptors to overcome the more experienced Cavaliers, Barnes is expected to deliver his best performance on both ends of the court, supported by teammates Brandon Ingram and RJ Barrett. NBA legend Kevin Garnett has lauded Barnes' defensive prowess, drawing comparisons to Nikola Jokic.
