As the outcome for this year's NBA honors trickle in, we know who the 2025-26 Defensive Player of the Year is. There was no suspense surrounding who would win this award. San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama received all 100 first-place votes, netting him 500 points in total. It could be the start of him repeatedly adding this hardware to his trophy case.
Wembanyama swatted 3.1 shots and swiped 1.0 steals per game this season. He is shockingly versatile at that end of the floor for someone his size. His pterodactyl-like wingspan also makes him a nightmare to navigate at the rim. Players will commonly reroute as they enter the paint and encounter his looming presence.
Chet Holmgren came in second in the Defensive Player of the Year voting. The Oklahoma City Thunder's burgeoning star received 76 second-place votes and 239 total points.
From there, the voting starts to get concerning for Derrick White. Ausar Thompson of the Detroit Pistons registered 60 points, earning him a third-place finish. He's a dynamic and versatile defender who swiped the third-most steals this season [146].
From there, the ballot boxes got even more concerning for White's hopes of making the NBA's All-Defensive First Team for the first time in his career.
Victor Wembanyama is the first unanimous Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year since the award’s inception in 1982-83.
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 20, 2026
The winner was selected by a global media panel of 100 voters.
Complete voting results ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/wIUDEDWJtm
Rudy Gobert came in fourth. The Minnesota Timberwolves' center garnered 41 points. Behind him was Scottie Barnes of the Toronto Raptors. He accumulated 21 points.
Sixth is an unenviable position, and it may be the odd one out when it comes time to determine the NBA's All-Defensive First Team. Unfortunately, that's where the Boston Celtics' guard landed. Voters netted him two second-place votes and seven third-place votes, totaling 13 points.
It's unclear how accurately this outcome will translate to whether White winds up on the NBA's All-Defensive First or Second team. However, it's an ominous outcome that may signal what's to come for him.
Derrick White deserves a spot on the NBA's All-Defensive First Team
The Celtics' dynamic guard helped Boston hold opponents to the fewest points per game during the regular season. He is excellent at keeping perimeter players in front of him, and he has evolved into the best rim-protecting player at his position. White reinforced that while given more freedom to roam at that end of the floor in the 2025-26 campaign.
The six-foot-four guard was one of two players this season to generate at least 80 steals and 80 blocks. The other was Barnes. White was second among guards in blocks. The only player ahead of him was Barnes, who is four inches taller.
Furthermore, the two-time All-Defensive Second Team selection ranked third in defensive win shares. He contested the most shots among players at his position. He is also the first Celtic with at least 75 blocks and 75 steals in a season since Kevin Garnett did so in 2007-08. Garnett won the Defensive Player of the Year Award that season.
While White winning that accolade wasn't going to happen, his dynamic production on that side of the ball merits a spot on the NBA's All-Defensive First Team.
Add us as a preferred source on Google