This season, the NBA created a brand new trophy, that of best defender of the month. An award which was awarded for the very first time this Tuesday and which went to Victor Wembanyama. The Frenchman became the first player to be crowned best defender in the Western Conference, while in the East, it was Atlanta Hawks fullback Dyson Daniels who was acclaimed.
History will record that Victor Wembanyama was the first player to be voted Defender of the Month in the Western Conference. After the Rookies of the month, the Players of the month and the Coaches of the month, the NBA has set up this brand new award this season, the first winners of which were revealed this Tuesday. In the West, it is therefore Victor Wembanyama who won this distinction and Dyson Daniels (Atlanta Hawks) in the East.
Wembanyama best blocker in the NBA
The NBA highlights the fact that Victor Wembanyama is the best blocker in the League (3.6 blocks per game), fourth in contested shots (10.1) and eighth in deflected balls (3.3). The pivot of San Antonio Spurs was preferred to Toumani Camara (Portland Trail Blazers), Anthony Davis (Los Angeles Lakers), Luguentz there (Oklahoma City Thunder), Kris Dunn et Ivica Zubac (Los Angeles Clippers), Tari Eason et Amen Thompson (Houston Rockets), Draymond Green (Golden State Warriors) et Jaren Jackson Jr. (Memphis Grizzlies).
San Antonio Spurs forward-center Victor Wembanyama and Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels have been named the Kia NBA Western and Eastern Conference Defensive Players of the Month, respectively, for games played in October/November, becoming the first recipients of the new award. pic.twitter.com/tDMp2T6wny
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) December 3, 2024
The title of best defender of the year in the sights
Which proves once again that Victor Wembanyama is already an elite defender in NBA. For his very first season in the League, the Frenchman came second in the race for the Defender of the Year title last season, ahead of Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat), but behind his compatriot Rudy Gobert (Minnesota Timberwolves). « May Rudy win it this year, then it won’t be his turn », had then warned Wemby.
