Following the Dallas Mavericks’ victory over the San Antonio Spurs, Kyrie Irving delved into Victor Wembanyama’s potential for the Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) award.
Irving commended Wembanyama’s defensive prowess, highlighting his ability to challenge shots with the precision and agility reminiscent of a guard, as per Paul Garcia’s report.
The Spurs rookie’s remarkable defensive stats, including an average of 3.5 blocks and 1.3 steals per game, underscore his impact on the defensive end.
“You got to be aware of him late challenging, and he has the timing of a guard. I don’t know if it’s just he’s played against guards, but I’m just saying, I think he’s got a lot of reps of playing against good guards and guarding them one-on-one,” Irving said, per Paul Garcia.
“He does do things like a Defensive Player of the Year would. He’s showing signs that’s he’s exceeded all the Defensive Player of the Year stats of the previous guys that have won it. You guys see it,” Irving added. “I don’t know, who they’re going to pick, but I mean he has all the tools to be named Defensive Player of the Year. He’s for sure a candidate. I don’t know how he wouldn’t be, unless the games played and minutes
“But every Defensive Player of the Year that’s won the past few years, he’s almost head and shoulder and we still have what 15 or some odd games left? I give him credit for being such a young player but learning on the fly and doing everything he can to get his team wins.”
