San Antonio Spurs forward-center Victor Wembanyama is the recipient of the Wilt Chamberlain Trophy as the 2023-24 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year.
Wembanyama is the first player from France to win the Kia NBA Rookie of the Year Award, which has been presented annually since the 1952-53 season. He is also the third player to earn the honor with the Spurs, joining David Robinson (1989-90) and Tim Duncan (1997-98).
Wembanyama received all 99 first-place votes from a media panel, making him the first unanimous Kia NBA Rookie of the Year since Karl-Anthony Towns in the 2015-16 season.
In the 2023-24 regular season, Wembanyama led all rookies in points, rebounds and blocks per game, in addition to ranking fourth in assists and second in steals per game. He is the second rookie to lead all NBA players in blocks per game in a season, joining Manute Bol (1985-86). Wembanyama and Bol are also the only two rookies to lead the NBA in total blocks in a season since blocks were first recorded in the 1973-74 season.
Wembanyama became the first player to average at least 20.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 3.0 blocks in fewer than 30 minutes per game in a season. He is also the first player to have at least 1,500 points, 700 rebounds, 250 assists, 250 blocks and 100 three-pointers made in a season.
Wembanyama is one of three finalists for the 2023-24 Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award. TNT will reveal the winner on Tuesday, May 7 at 6:30 p.m. ET.
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