Victor Wembanyama would’ve been the 2025 DPOY instead of Evan Mobley had he not suffered a blood clot in his right shoulder. The issue forced him to miss the San Antonio Spurs’ last 30 regular-season games. The overwhelming feeling is that Wemby will win the award hands down this season. Steve Nash, though, is zagging while everyone else is zigging.
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Amen Thompson is Nash’s pick. Thompson, entering his third season, is perhaps the best perimeter defender in the NBA at the moment. The Rockets will rely heavily on his defensive versatility: From his lateral movement to his ability to switch onto frontcourt players during a switch-heavy scheme.
Thompson’s defensive stats don’t jump off the page. He averaged 1.3 steals and 0.6 blocks per game in 2024-25, along with a team-leading 34.6 block percentage. However, he passes the eye test better than any other Defensive Player of the Year candidate. Aside from Wemby, that is.
Nash, while on the Zach Lowe Show, spoke on the 2026 DPOY. Much to Lowe’s shock, the Canadian legend predicted Amen would win the award.
“Obviously, he’s [Wemby’s] going to be the best defensive player in the league for many, many years. He’s probably going to average four blocks a game. He’s going to be so dominant at that end. But, I think there’s something to a team that’s a little ahead at this point,” said Nash.
Records and team impact matter when players are considered for DPOY. The Rockets, despite losing Fred VanVleet, will probably have a better record than the Spurs. Impact-wise, it’s a toss-up.
Is Wemby more integral to the Spurs’ defense than Amen is to the Rockets’? It wouldn’t be outlandish in the slightest to say, yes.“I think Amen’s going to be spotlighted defensively… Being that guy that’s going to guard one through five at different stages,” Nash continued.
Fox Sports’ betting odds have Wemby as the runaway favorite to win the award. He’s a -185, meaning you would have to bet $185 to win $100 for the bet to cash in, in case of the Spurs’ superstar wins it. Amen is third behind Chet Holmgren… The Rockets forward is at a slightly disrespectful +1600.
This means someone can bet $100 and win $1600 if Amen were to be crowned. He’s tied with Anthony Davis with these odds.
Thompson is clearly smitten by the defensive end of the floor. “I feel like what makes the best defenders good is their IQ,” he had said, adding that the best defenders are good on “offense and defense”.
After earning All-Defensive First Team honors last season, it’s obvious that Amen’s motor won’t allow him to settle for anything less than that.
