"Don't know how Rudy Gobert got it" - Lakers guard claims Victor Wembanyama was robbed of 5 NBA awards
Victor Wembanyama delivered on all the expectations placed on him even before he entered the NBA, which resulted in the Rookie of the Year Award to celebrate his outstanding rookie campaign. However, Lakers guard D'Angelo Russell argued that he was supposed to win more than just ROTY, considering the level of production he showcased on both ends of the court.
During the 2023-24 season, the Spurs big man had a 105.8 defensive rating which was backed by his defensive capabilities. Due to his length and size, Wembanyama provided excellent rim protection for San Antonio while not being a liability to defend in open spaces.
Russell shared his comments about Victor Wembanyama on Tidal League's latest "Run Your Race" podcast episode.
"He should've been Rookie of the Year, Defensive Player [of the Year], Most Improved, All-NBA ... MVP," Russell said. "one-on-five fastbreak, you would shoot a jumper. ... I can't wait to float on Wemby."
In the 71 games he played last season, the 20-year-old averaged 21.4 points (46.5% shooting, including 32.5% from beyond the arc), 10.6 rebounds, and 3.6 blocks.
He was a walking double-double machine that was also an imposing defensive presence which proved troublesome for several opponents. It was just Wembanyama's first year in the league but Russell already saw enough for him to win several individual NBA awards.
Kevin Garnett previously had Victor Wembanyama as his 2024 Defensive Player of the Year
It wasn't just D'Angelo Russell who wanted to see Victor Wembanyama be last season's DPOY, as Celtics legend Kevin Garnett also had the same vote, per his April 17 "KG Certified" podcast episode.
"It ain't even a choice," Wembanyama said. "I hope the league don't screw him. All this, 'Oh, he plays on a bad team,' [but] you still got to show up and clock in. Wemby has took expectations and shot it to the moon, man. Everything we expected him to do, he was a lot and then some. The [things] he's doing in the post, man, get out of here, man."
Most of the NBA awards are associated with a player's impact on his team. Last season, the Minnesota Timberwolves were the number one-ranked defense in the league with Rudy Gobert being the catalyst of it.
However, Garnett argued that despite playing on a young rebuilding Spurs team, Victor Wembanyama's defensive presence was one of the main factors why they were able to win 22 games. In those 22 victories, San Antonio was able to get the better of certain matchups where they were viewed as the underdogs.
Despite not winning the DPOY award, it sets up the perfect opportunity for Wembanyama to come back even stronger for the upcoming 2024-25 season.