Since 2019-20, no player has come close to challenging Giannis Antetokounmpo as the last player to win both MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season... Until now. San Antonio Spurs big man Victor Wembanyama is making a legitimate case to take home both awards this season, possibly ripping the honor away from the Greek Freak as the most recent player.
Wembanyama would join elite company
As things stand, only three players have won MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in the same year. Michael Jordan in 1987-88, Hakeem Olajuwon in 1993-94, and Giannis Antetokounmpo in 2019-20. Those are three of the top 20—at the bare minimum—players in NBA history. In just his third season, it would be remarkable to see Wembanyama join the pack.
It would be hard to argue with the result. Wembanyama has led the Spurs, who currently sit second in the West, with 24.2 points, 11.3 rebounds, 3.1 blocks, and 1.1 steals per game. He's been a two-way force, doing absolutely unheard of things for a player who is 7-foot-4. If he keeps this up, the forward could very well etch his name into the history books.
Now, while the Defensive Player of the Year honor feels locked up by Wembanyama, the same cannot be said for MVP. OKC's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is still putting in a strong bid to take home the award for the second consecutive year as his team sits just a couple of games ahead of the Spurs in a tight Western Conference. This one could come down to the wire.
Giannis' 2019-20 season brings back very fond memories
Time sure flies. No one could fault Milwaukee Bucks fans for looking back on the better days after the team was just eliminated from playoff contention for the first time in a decade. Giannis' 2019-20 was a year to remember, with the Greek Freak putting together a dominant showing, which propelled the team to the best record in the NBA.
He was on another level that season, averaging 29.5 points, 13.6 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and a block and a steal apiece. He did all of that while playing under 30.5 minutes per game. Offensively, no player could contend with him in the paint. Defensively, his versatility was unmatched, often switching from defending on the perimeter to the interior effortlessly. He deservedly took home both honors.
Now, time will tell if his title holds or if Wembanyama joins the list as the most recent player to achieve this rare feat. If he does, it will only give Giannis more motivation to come back stronger after a tough year to try and reclaim his title.
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