San Antonio Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama named unanimous NBA Rookie of the Year
The 2023–24 NBA Rookie of the Year is Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs. Wembanyama was the unanimous choice for the award after receiving 99 votes in his favor. With 98 votes, center Chet Holmgren of the Oklahoma City Thunder took second place, followed by Brandon Miller of the Charlotte Hornets in third.
He was only the sixth player to win Rookie of the Year in the previous forty years. The previous Rookie of the Year winners were Damian Lillard (2013), Blake Griffin (2011), Ralph Sampson (1984), David Robinson (1990), and Karl-Anthony Towns (2016). Along with Tim Duncan (1998) and Robinson of the Spurs, he was also selected as the front-runner for the Rookie of the Year title.
Wembanyama was the first overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft. He played in 71 games this season, averaging 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game. Wembanyama also become only the second rookie in the history of NBA to lead the league in blocks since Alonzo Mourning and O’Neal in 1992-93. He registered 250 blocks to his name in the season.
“My goals were always to help my team as best as I could and get better as the year went on,” Wembanyama said from San Antonio on TNT after the award.
“I knew in order to do this I had to be individually good on the court and dominant. So, it was a huge thing for me and a big thing to get. It’s always been really important and I’m glad it’s finally official,” he added.
Wembanyama, however, has his eyes set on bigger awards, such as Defensive Player of the Year and Most Valuable Player as well.
