How Victor Wembanyama's Injury Affects Draymond Green's DPOY Chances

Spurs big man Victor Wembanyama being sidelined for the season worked in favor of Warriors star Draymond Green

Nov 23, 2024; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) looks up in front of Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) in the first half at Frost Bank Center. | Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images

SAN ANTONIO — Victor Wembanyama pitched a curious case for the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year Award after a stellar rookie season. He fell short.

Had it not been for the deep vein thrombosis in Wembanyama's right shoulder that caused him to fall below the league's mandated 65-game threshold for postseason awards, that wasn't likely to happen again.

Unfortunately for the 21-year-old, it'll be at least one more year before he can add it to his hidden trophy case next to the Rookie of the Year Award he earned a year ago.

"I want it to be overshadowed by what I do in the future," Wembanyama explained of his awards stash in the back of his closet. "I don't want it to push me in the slightest to slow down."

Jan 29, 2025; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) blocks the shot of LA Clippers center Ivica Zubac (40) in the first half at Frost Bank Center. | Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images

Wembanyama was ruled out for the season on Feb. 20 ahead of the San Antonio Spurs' quasi-home game against the Phoenix Suns in Austin, Texas. He's now missed more than a month, but still holds the lead for blocks across the league.

In fact, it's more impressive than you think.

Stocks this season: @statmuse

228 — Victor Wembanyama
176 — Victor Wembanyama, blocks only
146 — Draymond Green

Draymond is the new favorite to win DPOY. pic.twitter.com/8UcJQQAWJ0
— WembyMuse (@Wemby_Muse) March 26, 2025

Combining total steals and blocks, Wembanyama sits at No. 1 in the NBA with 228. If you took away the steals, his new total comes in at No. 2 with 176 — still 30 more than the next runner-up's combined statistics. That honor goes to Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green.

Green recently became the betting favorite to take home this season's Defensive Player of the Year trophy. Would he be in the conversation without Wembanyama's diagnosis? Perhaps not.

But so it goes with happenstance.

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