Wembanyama leads the NBA’s All-Defensive First Team in the 2025-2026 season

WASHINGTON. – The National Basketball Association announced this Friday the ideal defensive team of the 2025-2026 season, led by the French player Victor Wembanyama, who continues to establish himself as one of the great defensive figures of the league. The stellar San Antonio Spurs player was unanimously selected after receiving the maximum of 200 possible points from a panel of 100 voters. Alongside Wembanyama were Chet Holmgren of the Oklahoma City Thunder; Ausar Thompson of the Detroit Pistons; Rudy Gobert of the Minnesota Timberwolves; and Derrick White of the Boston Celtics. Holmgren finished second in the voting with 190 points, followed by Thompson with 166. Gobert accumulated 151 units and White closed out the quintet with 146.

Wembanyama continues making history

The choice of the French pivot comes a few days after being named NBA Defensive Player of the Year, also unanimously, becoming the first player to achieve that distinction unanimously. Wembanyama took over precisely from his compatriot Rudy Gobert, who has won the Defensive Player of the Year award four times during his career.

Second defensive quintet

The NBA also revealed the second defensive team of the season, consisting of Scottie Barnes of the Toronto Raptors; Cason Wallace of Oklahoma City; Bam Adebayo of the Miami Heat; OG Anunoby of the New York Knicks; and Dyson Daniels of the Atlanta Hawks. The selection reaffirms the prominence of a new generation of young players who are marking an era in the defensive aspect of the NBA.