Superstar center Victor Wembanyama had an interesting reaction when asked about other players, like rival Chet Holmgren, getting Defensive Player of the Year votes over him. Wembanyama is the massive favorite and nearly guaranteed to win the award after he recently played his 65th game to officially qualify. A reporter asked Wemby about the potential of winning unanimously, to which the San Antonio Spurs star revealed he wants that.
The following exchange occurred between Wembanyama and a reporter:
Reporter: “Well, there is a lot of conversation about MVP. I think for Defensive Player of the Year, it’s consensus you’re going to get it. It’s just a matter of whether you win it unanimously. Would you be surprised if you’re not the unanimous winner for Defensive Player of the Year?”
Victor: “Yes, I would. Who are the other front runners?
Reporter: “Good question. Chet, Chet’s up there.”
Victor: “Okay.”
The end of the exchange featured a funny reaction from Wembanyama when Holmgren and others were named. A rivalry has developed over the past few years with Wemby throwing shade at Holmgren whenever he had the chance. Holmgren is considered the second choice for DPOY, and Wembanyama found humor in his name being referenced.
Will Victor Wembanyama Win DOY Unanimously?
Wembanyama has been the overwhelming favorite throughout the entire season from start to finish. The only time that Holmgren passed Wemby in the odds came over a few weeks during an injury when oddsmakers feared that Wembanyama would not play enough games to qualify for the 65-game minimum rule.
Other candidates for the award include Rudy Gobert, Scottie Barnes, and Ausar Thompson. All five of these players will have strong chances for the All-Defensive Team, but no one has a realistic chance outside of Wemby to take home the award. Unanimous votes make sense here since Wembanyama is clearly the best defensive player in the league.
Ironically, Holmgren is the only other name that may be able to steal some votes from Wemby. The rivals have become the two premiere defenders in the league, and many fans hope to see them face off in the playoffs. Wembanyama will likely be upset if Holmgren even gets a couple of votes to ruin his dream scenario.
Why Does Victor Wembanyama Dislike Chet Holmgren?
The chuckle from Wembanyama when Holmgren was named adds more to their ongoing rivalry. Wemby started making little critical comments throwing shade at Holmgren when both were in the same Rookie of the Year race with Brandon Miller as the top three rookies.
Voters chose Wembanyama to be the clear choice as the best rookie, much like voting is expected to go for DPOY. However, Wemby didn’t like that some NBA minds were saying Holmgren is comparable to him and deserved some votes.
Since then, Wembanyama has taken pride in defeating Holmgren’s Oklahoma City Thunder and wants to outperform his rival every meeting. The rivalry will only get stronger with both teams as the top two favorites in the West. Wemby loves to outshine Holmgren and will have a chance to upset him if they meet in the Western Conference Finals.
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