ESPN NBA Insider Shams Charania made the Bombshell announcement on Thursday that stated that San Antonio Superstar Center Victor Wembanyama would miss the rest of the 2024-25 season due to deep vein drombosis in his right shoulder.
Victor Wembanyama from San Antonio Spurs is no longer eligible for NBA Defensive Player of the Year
Last season, Wembanyama was achieved his first All-Star selection, he was named Unanieme Rookie of the Year and finished as a finalist for the defending player of the year. He was the favorite to take the Defensive Award home this season and led the competition with 3.8 blocks per game.
Before the shocking news on Thursday, Wembanyama was on pace to become the youngest player in the NBA history who won defensive player of the year. However, his injury means that he will not reach the minimum of 65 races to be eligible for late season prices, so that the door is opened for other top candidates in the race.
No more wemby for the season! 💔
However, that means that DPOY is for the taking! 🧐pic.twitter.com/kmo4ff8lod
– Concreteline (@betonline_ag) February 20, 2025
Years Jackson Jr., the double NBA block champion for the seventh-arranged Grizzlies defense, has the chance to claim his second DPOY trophy.
Another remarkable candidate is Evan Mobley, who leads the defense of the eighth ranked cavaliers. Mobley is not as young as Wembanyama, but he would still bind for the youngest DPOY winner ever.
Jackson or Mobley would receive a wage increase
What is even more important, there are significant financial incentives such as Jackson or Mobley DPOY wins. Jackson would be eligible to sign a supermax of five years, $ 345 million, while the Rookie Extension Mobley would rise the last season from $ 224 million to $ 269 million.
If the Cavaliers win the NBA championship with Mobley this season, that might be well spent. The 6-foot-11 attacker is on average a career-high 18.5 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game.
After this season, Wembanyama passed two years and $ 26.1 million to the contract on the Rookie scale that he signed with the Spurs after he was selected in the design of 2023 number 1. Sources have informed ESPN on Thursday that his team option of $ 16.9 million before 2026-27 is expected to be exercised before October 31.
From the low season of 2026, Wembanyama is eligible to sign a five-year Rookie extension, $ 271 million, the first year of which would start in 2027-28. If Wembanyama MVP, DPOY wins, or is named after one of the three All-NBA teams in 2026-27, the extension would increase to $ 326 million.
