Draymond Green says Victor Wembanyama deserves to win 2024 DPOY award
How good has San Antonio Spurs rookie phenom Victor Wembanyama been this season? The Frenchman has done exceptionally well, making four-time All-Star and NBA champion Draymond Green change his tune about who should be the Defensive Player of the Year.
Draymond's change of heart
While the San Antonio Spurs continue to bring up the rear in the Western Conference with a miserable 18-58 record, Wemby's play, especially on the defensive end, has been nothing short of spectacular. Draymond did not explain why he changed his mind, but Victor's impressive performance against Nikola Jokic the other night might've played a role.
Wembanyama held his own against the two-time MVP, nearly achieving a quadruple-double of 23 points, 15 rebounds, eight assists, and nine blocks. This season, the 7-foot-4 center is leading the league in blocks per game with 3.5—the highest mark the NBA has seen since Hassan Whiteside registered 3.7 blocks per game in the 2015-2016 season.
"I know I said on here a while back that Wemby shouldn't be the Defensive of the Year and I lied. Wemby is definitely the Defensive Player of the Year because he is that amazing defensively," Green said. "The way he impacts the game on the defensive end, whether it's off the ball, on the ball, it's a problem."
Wemby's impact on defense
The 2017 DPOY winner has anchored the Golden State Warriors defense for years and been a critical factor in their title runs. So, when he says Wembanyama is worthy of the prestigious award, it carries a lot of weight.
"When you start driving to the hole and like guys may have a layup, maybe not, and they just turn out and go the other way? That's a problem, and that's a blocked shot in a sense, and no one will account for that," Draymond said, explaining how the Spurs' young star changes shots with his mere presence around the rim.
"You drive into the lane to get a layup, and you see Wemby; you just go the other way. That's a blocked shot. I don't know what lab he was created in, but I need to go create me a son in that lab because dude is unbelievable," Green added.
Should Wembanyama go on to win the DPOY award, he'll be the first rookie and the youngest ever to achieve the feat. While experts and other players may have their picks, it's clear that the Spurs rookie has already earned the respect and admiration of one of the fiercest defenders the league has ever seen.
