Victor Wembanyama definitely has that dawg in him.
The San Antonio Spurs star Wembanyama was officially named the NBA’s 2023-24 Rookie of the Year on Monday. Wembanyama pulled off a clean sweep, securing all 99 first-place votes to win the award unanimously (the first player to do so in nearly a decade).
The 2023-24 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year is… Victor Wembanyama!#NBAAwards | #KiaROY | @Kia pic.twitter.com/tgxkaeA1bS
— NBA (@NBA) May 6, 2024
Victor Wembanyama received all 99 first-place votes from a media panel, making him the first unanimous NBA Rookie of the Year since Karl-Anthony Towns in the 2015-16 season. pic.twitter.com/cWcjdXRrUD
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) May 6, 2024
In an interview with Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News that ran later in the day Monday, Wembanyama revealed his plan for his Rookie of the Year trophy. He intends to keep it hidden away in the back of a closet.
“I want it to be overshadowed by what I do in the future,” Wembanyama was quoted of saying about his award. “I don’t want it to push me in the slightest to slow down.”
Wembanyama also said in the interview that he was happy to be the unanimous Rookie of the Year winner because “it shows total domination.” You can read his full interview with McDonald here.
The 7-foot-4 Wembanyama defied all basketball logic this season. At just 20 years old, he averaged 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and a league-leading 3.6 blocks per contest. He also kept relatively healthy, which is the primary concern for big men of his size, appearing in 71 out of 82 games for the Spurs.
To go along with his bewildering physical gifts and his impressive statistical production, Wembanyama also the right mentality. Countless times this year, Wembanyama proved that he has his sights firmly set on greatness.
