Victor Wembanyama only played 46 games last season. That inevitably removed him from contention when it came to the Defensive Player of the Year award. Evan Mobley wound up being the recipient as a result.
No one will sit here and say Mobley is undeserving of that accolade. The Cleveland Cavaliers star is undoubtedly one of the best defensive players on the planet, with skills that could make even the other elite talents in the NBA envious.
However, Wembanyama's return in 2025-26 is being met with a near inevitability when it comes to claiming the Defensive Player of the Year award.