Former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins did not hesitate to heap praise on Victor Wembanyama following his unanimous DPOY campaign. After casting his vote for the Spurs star, Perkins revealed on First Take that he already considers Wemby as the best defensive player in NBA history. 

“H*** yeah, he's the best defensive player I've ever laid my eyes on,” said the former Celtic, delivering his verdict without hesitation. He went a step further, adding that Wembanyama would continue to receive his vote in the coming years, as he expects him to dominate the category. “That's not going anywhere, that's going to be owned by Wemby for the next 5 or 6 years.” 

Kendrick Perkins further built his case by pointing to Victor Wembanyama’s rare defensive versatility. Standing tall at 7‘5", the Spurs big man can anchor drop coverage in pick & roll and also guard the perimeter. And importantly, he dictates the rim, shot blocking his way to the DPOY award with 3.1 blocks per game this season. 

After leading the league in shot blocking since his rookie season, once again, he finished at the top, leading the league in blocks, reinforcing Perkins to consider Wemby nothing short of a ‘greatest shot blocker to ever play the game’.

Perkins also highlighted one of the most intimidating aspects of Wemby’s defensive playbook. That’s the ability to shut down the paint. “They are scared to drive to the basket,” said the 41-year-old. He also highlighted how the team’s tough perimeter defense by the wings also complements Wemby, making the Spurs one of the league's stronger defensive units. 

Beyond skills and physical ability, Perkins said that dominant defenders carry a “killer mentality.” He also warned the league, saying, “That smile and that swag he walks in with, don't let that fool you. He has it on his mind, he stands on business.” Doubling down on his stance while reinforcing the significance of Wembanyama’s unanimous selection.

 Victor Wembanyama Reflects on DPOY Glory

For the French baller, securing the unanimous DPOY honor came with its own challenges. Speaking after receiving the award, he admitted that one of the key challenges was meeting the 65-game eligibility. He suffered a rib injury in his 64th game, but he qualified because he played in the NBA Cup Finals.

Speaking of his achievement, Victor Wembanyama said, “I’m super, super happy to win this award and actually super proud to be the first-ever unanimous.” 

Now firmly established as the defensive anchor of the Spurs, Wemby’s rise signals a new era for the franchise. With the team returning to the postseason for the first time since the 2018-19 season era, expectations continue to grow.

With the first round series against the Trail Blazers tied at 1-1, the Spurs will visit the Blazers for Game 3  on Friday night at Moda Center, Portland.

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Written by

Shahul Hameed

Edited by

Siddharth Rawat