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The 2024-25 NBA season is still a couple of months away but people are already discussing who will win end-of-season awards, such as MVP, Rookie of the Year, and more.
One of the most coveted prizes is Defensive Player of the Year and ESPN has a clear idea of who will win that.
According to NBACentral, Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs is the odds-on favorite to claim the DPOY at the end of next season.
The superstar earned 76 expert votes, while Rudy Gobert of the Minnesota Timberwolves had 29 points, Bam Adebayo of the Miami Heat had 26, and Anthony Davis of the Los Angeles Lakers had 14.
ESPN experts vote on the Defensive Player of the Year for the 2024-25 season:
1. Victor Wembanyama: 76 points
2. Rudy Gobert: 29 points
3. Bam Adebayo: 26 points
4. Anthony Davis: 14 points
5. Mikal Bridges: 10 points
6. Jrue Holiday: 8 points
7. Joel Embiid: 5 points
T-8.… pic.twitter.com/YT0SdHAHJg
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) August 20, 2024
Other players, such as Mikal Bridges, Jrue Holiday, Joel Embiid, and Draymond Green were in the mix but Wembanyama is far above the rest of the competition.
Does that mean he’s assured Defensive Player of the Year for 2024-25?
Of course, a lot can change over the next few months and someone else could claim that prize but it’s clear that Wembanyama has an advantage.
Anyone who watched his rookie year isn’t surprised by this news because Wembanyama was a defensive powerhouse right out of the gate.
In fact, he came close to winning the prize last season, which would have been a huge feat for a rookie star.
His second year could be even better than his first.
Wembanyama showed glimpses of what 2024-25 will look like during his time at the Paris Olympics.
He was dominant with his defense, of course, but he was also strong offensively too.
Every aspect of the French star’s game is getting better and that could completely shake up the Western Conference.
Defensive Player of the Year would be a massive accomplishment for Wembanyama but he won’t rest until he’s an NBA champion.
The post ESPN Experts Have A Clear Favorite To Win NBA Defensive Player Of Year Next Season appeared first on The Cold Wire.