The Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama has been named Western Conference Defensive Player of the month for the third straight time, the league announced.
Wembanyama averaged 9.7 defensive rebounds, 1.7 steals, and 3.7 blocks per game during March in just 29.9 minutes a night. The Spurs held opponents to an outrageous low 102.9 points per 100 possessions with the big man on the floor, with his defense playing a huge part in San Antonio’s 13-2 record for the month.
At this point, Wembanyama has established himself
as the league’s premier defender and seems like a lock for Defensive Player of the Year if he remains eligible. He’s won Western Conference Defensive Player of the Month three times, the only player to get to that amount this season in either conference, and has anchored the third-best defense in the league. Wembanyama leads the league in blocks by a wide margin and ranks second in defensive rebounds per game, but his individual impact goes beyond the numbers.
The Pistons’ Ausar Thompson was named Eastern Conference Defensive Player of the Month, his second consecutive distinction.
Wembanyama is averaging 24.7 points, 11.5 rebounds, three assists, 3.1 blocks, and one steal in 29.2 minutes a game this season.
