Wembanyama’s defensive dominance in San Antonio

Defensive rim deterrence

Wembanyama dominates the defensive glass and the paint. He averages 3.8 blocks per game since the All-Star break. He leads in rim deterrence, recording 51 such instances compared to Rudy Gobert’s 27. I find his ability to prevent scoring attempts at the rim as the most impressive part of his game. Opponents shoot 41.1% when facing his defensive pressure. He prevents 9.5 advantageous situations per game. He also led the league in total blocked shots last season with 197, and in his 2026-27 games, he has already recorded 19 blocks over five contests. His offensive impact fails to match his defensive dominance, as his Estimated Player Impact sits at 2.26, which ranks 12th behind players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at 4.97. Wembanyama’s defensive rebounding percentage of 28.5% ranked highest in the league among qualified players. He also ranked second in defensive rebounds per game with 11.5. He is 7-4 and 235 lbs. He averages 25.0 points, 11.4 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game. He also held opponents to a 42.0% field goal percentage. In his game against Houston on October 24, he recorded 13 rebounds. Wembanyama became the first player in league history to win Defensive Player of the Year in a unanimous vote, receiving all 100 first-place votes after leading the league with 197 blocks and 3.1 blocks per game.

The Paul factor

Chris Paul provides leadership that stabilizes the Spurs. Gregg Popovich calls him an "alpha" and a "natural leader" who is there to win. You should watch how this mentorship influences the defensive rotations. Paul helps young players understand defensive responsibilities. Wembanyama records 3.8 blocks per game while playing 32.2 minutes. The Spurs allowed 103.6 points per 100 possessions when Wembanyama played, but they gave up 113.7 points per 100 possessions when he sat. Paul’s influence helps players manage the pressure of high-stakes games. His presence in the locker room assists in building a culture of discipline. Paul has won the NBA’s Community Assist Award three times throughout his career. He also manages the CP3 Basketball Academy to provide skill development and leadership opportunities for young athletes. Paul’s mentorship of young teammates played a large role in the Thunder’s over-performance this season. Paul also founded a foundation in 2005 that provides technology opportunities for children in underserved communities. His foundation supports numerous organizations, including The Brotherhood Crusade and Feed the Children. He also donated $2.5 million to Wake Forest University to support their basketball program.

Award eligibility hurdles

NBA rules complicate award consideration for superstars. The 65-game rule ties award eligibility to games played. This rule prevents players from being on the ballot if they fall short of the threshold. Wembanyama missed time last season due to a blood clot but still met the 65-game criteria in the final week. NBA GMs expect him to win his first MVP and repeat as Defensive Player of the Year. The GMs expect the Spurs to win their sixth NBA championship this season, giving them 50% of the votes while the Oklahoma City Thunder received 43% in the balloting for which team will win the title. Wembanyama received 23 of a possible 29 votes in the MVP polling from GMs. He swept all 29 possible votes for the league’s best defender. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the runaway choice as best point guard with 67% of the votes. Anthony Edwards was the pick as best shooting guard with 73% of the votes. The Spurs hold a 3-2 record and sit in 6th place in the Western Conference. Can he maintain this level of defensive production while carrying the offensive load?