Full Breakdown
Victor Wembanyama Leads 2025-26 NBA All-Defensive First Team
5/24/2026, 2:51:46 AM
All-Defensive Teams Announced
On Friday night the NBA officially announced the 2025-26 All-Defensive selections. The First Team includes Victor Wembanyama (Spurs), Chet Holmgren (Thunder), Ausar Thompson (Pistons), Rudy Gobert (Timberwolves) and Derrick White (Celtics). The Second Team features Bam Adebayo (Heat), OG Anunoby (Knicks), Scottie Barnes (Raptors), Cason Wallace (Thunder) and Dyson Daniels (Hawks).
Background & Context
Wembanyama entered the season as the first unanimous Defensive Player of the Year, a title earned on April 20. He was also the first rookie in 2023-24 to make a First-Team All-Defensive roster, highlighting his swift rise. Oklahoma City was the only team with multiple honorees, with Holmgren and Wallace on the First and Second Teams. The selection reflects the NBA’s broader focus on defensive versatility across positions.
Defensive Highlights
- Victor Wembanyama (Spurs) – 7-ft-4, 8-in wingspan; 3.1 blocks per game (league-leading) and opponents shot 40.7 % when he defended, earning a unanimous DPOY.
- Chet Holmgren (Thunder) – 1.9 blocks per game, 0.6 steals; Oklahoma City’s defensive rating was 102.3 with him versus 107.9 without, contributing to the league’s best 64-18 record.
- Ausar Thompson (Pistons) – 2.0 steals per game (league-leading), anchoring Detroit’s perimeter defense.
- Rudy Gobert (Timberwolves) – Veteran center, consistently in the league’s top-10 for defensive rating, adding another All-Defensive First-Team honor.
- Derrick White (Celtics) – Guard with over 80 steals and 80 blocks, the first Celtic to reach both thresholds since 2008, aiding Boston’s fourth-best defensive rating.
Data & Voting
Voting points: Wembanyama 200, Holmgren 190, Thompson 166, Gobert 151, White 146 (First Team). Second-Team: Barnes 130, Wallace 94, Adebayo 71, Anunoby 67, Daniels 50. Defensive metrics: Wembanyama 3.1 BPG, Holmgren 1.9 BPG, Thompson 2.0 SPG, Wallace led in steals and deflections. Adebayo also earned the NBA Social Justice Champion award and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Trophy.
Official Statements & Responses
The NBA’s release highlighted Wembanyama as the only unanimous First-Team selection, noting his historic DPOY award and rim-protection impact. It also praised the Thunder’s defense, citing Holmgren’s role in the 64-18 regular-season record.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on Gobert’s All-Defensive First-Team count: ESPN lists an eighth selection (ninth overall), while Eurohoops records a ninth career nod. The NBA’s voting shows his 151-point total but does not clarify prior First-Team tallies.
Impact
The roster reflects a generational shift in NBA defense. A rookie (Wembanyama) and a third-year forward (Thompson) join veteran specialists (Gobert, White) on the First Team, underscoring the league’s growing emphasis on rim protection, elite shot-blocking, and versatile perimeter defense. The selections also illustrate how defensive anchors can translate into team success, as seen in Oklahoma City’s league-best record and Boston’s top-four defensive rating.
What’s Next
The NBA will announce its All-NBA teams on Sunday and the Coach of the Year award on Tuesday, completing the league’s end-of-season honors cycle.
