Before his season was derailed by a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) diagnosis in February 2025, Victor Wembanyama was virtually unbeatable in the NBA Defensive Player of the Year race. The 7-foot-5 phenom held unprecedented odds as low as -2000 on various sportsbooks — a staggering 95 percent implied probability — to capture the award before being ruled out for the season.
By that point, he was leading the league in blocks per game (3.8), anchoring a top-10 defense, and holding opponents to 41.2 percent shooting at the rim, the best mark among players who contested at least 200 shots. The statistical and visual evidence made his case clear: Wembanyama wasn’t just protecting the paint — he was redefining what rim deterrence looks like in the modern NBA.
But after the DVT diagnosis in his shoulder prematurely ended the 2024-2025 season, the betting markets shifted quickly. With Wembanyama sidelined, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Evan Mobley emerged as late-season favorites.
Mobley ultimately took home the award, becoming the first Cleveland Cavalier to do so. At just 23 years old, he anchored the NBA’s best defense, averaging 1.6 blocks, 0.9 steals, and 7.0 defensive rebounds per game, while contesting more than 10 shots nightly. His consistency over the full 82-game slate made him a deserving winner — though many around the league still viewed Wembanyama as the best defender in basketball when healthy.
Now fully recovered and entering his third NBA season, the conversation has come full circle.
The Favorite Returns
Heading into the 2025–26 NBA season, sportsbooks once again list Wembanyama as the betting favorite to win Defensive Player of the Year, with odds implying around a 63 to 65 percent chance of victory if he remains healthy.
His primary competition includes Chet Holmgren, reigning winner Evan Mobley, and emerging defenders such as Dyson Daniels and Amen Thompson. But make no mistake — analysts agree that this race begins and ends with Wembanyama.
He is not only healthy again but stronger, wiser, and more motivated than ever after an offseason that redefined his body, mind, and purpose.
Recovery and Mindset Shift
The DVT diagnosis could have been a devastating setback. Instead, it became a turning point.
After undergoing surgery and months of medical supervision, Wembanyama described the experience as both painful and enlightening.
“Spending so much time around doctors and hearing more bad news than I wish I had, of course it is traumatic,” he said. “But in the long run, it’s going to be very beneficial because it makes you understand lessons that nothing else could have made you understand.”
By July, he was cleared to play and felt “ahead of schedule” in recovery. He told L’Équipe that he was “finally able to play basketball again” — a simple statement that underscored months of uncertainty and resilience.
A Global Offseason of Transformation
Once cleared, Wembanyama’s offseason became a quest for balance and mastery. The French star traveled the world, pushing both body and mind in ways few NBA players ever have.
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He spent ten days training at the Shaolin Temple in Zhengzhou, China, waking up at 4:30 a.m. daily for Kung Fu, Chan meditation, and a vegetarian diet.
“It was an incredible experience,” Wembanyama said. “It really paid off in terms of training and as a life experience as a curious person.”
Wemby later trained in Costa Rica and Tokyo, focusing on endurance, flexibility, and agility. Back home in Le Chesnay, France, he even organized a chess-and-basketball charity tournament, blending his intellectual curiosity with community leadership.
“All of these experiences pushed my mind and body under unusual stress,” Wembanyama said. “It was about reinforcing discipline, balance, and flexibility.”
Mentorship from Legends
In Texas, Wembanyama attended a private skills camp hosted by Hakeem Olajuwon, where he honed advanced footwork, timing, and balance.
“Our concept was not for big men,” Olajuwon told ESPN. “We are big guards. You don’t want to dribble like a big man. You can play 1 through 5 with the freedom to create — because he has the advantage every night on everybody.”
Wembanyama also spent time with Kevin Garnett, working on the mental side of leadership and competitiveness — two areas that define Garnett’s Hall of Fame career.
“I can assure you nobody has trained like I did this summer,” Wembanyama said. “I think I’ve maxed out what I could do in one summer.”
Setting the Tone in San Antonio
Wembanyama’s presence has become the backbone of the Spurs’ culture. Head coach Mitch Johnson, who took over full-time duties last spring, emphasized that the team’s identity now mirrors its young superstar.
“He is so intentional in the variety of ways that he tries to improve as a player and person,” Johnson said. “He’s constantly trying to push himself out of his comfort zone.”
Wembanyama echoed that sentiment at Media Day, where he established a clear message to his teammates.
“Defense is non-negotiable,” he said. “It doesn’t matter your status; defense comes first. It’s not something you can’t do if you want to be part of our team. We’ll hold each other accountable, and Coach Mitch will hold us accountable.”
The Spurs have embraced that standard. Jeremy Sochan called defense the team’s “No. 1 goal,” and rookie Stephon Castle said the roster’s size and energy make them “a scary group” on that end of the floor.
Rim Protection Redefined
At the heart of Wembanyama’s Defensive Player of the Year case is his unmatched ability to control the paint. In 2024–25, he led the NBA in blocks per game (3.8) for the second straight season and recorded six of the seven games with seven or more blocks, more than Anthony Davis, Chet Holmgren, and Jaren Jackson Jr. combined.
Opponents shot just 41.2 percent at the rim when he was the primary defender, and the Spurs’ defense improved by 12 points per 100 possessions with him on the floor.
Scouts described his rim deterrence as “historic,” noting that he changes offensive schemes simply by existing. Even when he doesn’t record a block, he influences shot selection and spacing in ways unseen since peak Rudy Gobert or early Tim Duncan.
We’re running out of words to describe Victor Wembanyama.
— NBA (@NBA) October 14, 2025
In another display of his physics-defying toolkit… Wemby went to work for 27 points, 11 boards, 4 assists and 3 steals in just 24 minutes last night.
The Spurs are now 4-0 in preseason play!pic.twitter.com/qVTBJIGU89
Defensive Versatility and Anticipation
What makes Wembanyama generational isn’t just his length — it’s how he uses it.
He averaged 1.1 steals per game, using his quick hands and instincts to disrupt passing lanes and initiate transition opportunities. His ability to switch onto guards without losing balance allows San Antonio to experiment defensively in ways most teams can’t.
“His hands are as quick as his feet — he reads passing lanes like a perimeter defender but finishes plays like a center,” one Western Conference scout said.
That versatility is what separates him from traditional rim protectors. Wembanyama isn’t simply contesting shots; he’s erasing actions, deterring drives, and forcing entire offenses to rethink their approach.
“[Working with KG] was super interesting. He’s got a very unique perspective on relationships with teammates, opponents, even refs and media. He’s very smart emotionally. He’s got this energy but knows how to channel it and use it for the best.” pic.twitter.com/RoflXvcPei
— Josh Paredes (@Josh810) October 3, 2025
The Path to the Trophy
Barring injury, Wembanyama’s path to his first Defensive Player of the Year award seems inevitable. The odds, analytics, and on-court impact all point in one direction — toward a player who has not only recovered but evolved.
With his conditioning restored, his mental toughness reinforced, and his leadership voice growing louder, the 21-year-old enters 2025–26 as the heartbeat of a Spurs team intent on reclaiming relevance.
“My aim is to establish high standards,” Wembanyama said. “We’ve begun setting those standards in the gym. From the first game of the season and throughout preseason, this is non-negotiable.”
If he maintains that mindset and stays healthy, it may take a historic defensive season from anyone else to keep him from finally capturing the award that already felt like his a year ago.
