Victor Wembanyama needed only three seasons to land himself at No. 36 in Bleacher Report’s new ranking of the 99 best defenders the NBA has ever seen. This dude is only 22 years old, and he’s already kicking down the door on all-time lists, putting seasoned legends behind him.
This Kid Is an All-Time Stopper at 22
Yeah, you read that right. Wembanyama, barely out of his rookie contract, is already ahead of some seriously established stars and former Defensive Player of the Year winners. We’re talking guys like Jrue Holiday, Marcus Smart, Joakim Noah, Tyson Chandler, and Marc Gasol. It gets wilder, too. Kobe Bryant, with his twelve All-Defensive team selections, finished at No. 42! Patrick Ewing was No. 46, and three-time blocks leader Theo Ratliff landed way down at No. 87. Even active defensive standouts like Bam Adebayo, Jaren Jackson Jr., Evan Mobley, Chet Holmgren, Alex Caruso, OG Anunoby, and Derrick White are all sitting behind him on this list. Jrue Holiday just barely edged him out for the No. 35 spot, by the way. Bleacher Report’s own staff, including Andy Bailey, even suggested his ranking “might actually be a little conservative.” That’s not just hype, folks. That’s a scary warning for the rest of the league.
The Numbers Don’t Lie: What’s Driving the Hype
Bleacher Report didn’t just pull these rankings out of thin air. They crunched the numbers, diving into traditional statistics, advanced metrics, Defensive Player of the Year voting, All-Defensive selections, peak dominance, longevity, and the good old eye test. Honestly, longevity is the only thing working against Wembanyama right now. Through his first three seasons, the 7-foot-4 center has been averaging a ridiculous 3.5 blocks and 1.1 steals per game. His 9.9 career block percentage tells you everything you need to know about how often he shuts down shots at the rim. Plus, he just became the first unanimous Defensive Player of the Year in NBA history during the 2025-26 season! That season alone, he averaged 3.1 blocks and 9.5 defensive rebounds in only 29.2 minutes per game, earning his second consecutive All-Defensive First Team selection. It’s not just the blocks, either. Wembanyama is described as a “terrifying deterrent” because opponents actually abandon drives just by seeing him near the basket. His presence forces them to change their whole offensive plan.
Think about that for a second. We’re watching a player who is already ranked among the all-time greats, has a unanimous DPOY under his belt, and the experts are saying his ranking might be *too low*. While there’s still a gap between him and the top of the list, with legends like Bill Russell, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Ben Wallace, the most mind-blowing detail is this: Wembanyama has already received a first-place vote from at least one member of the panel. A first-place vote! This isn’t just a phenomenal player; this is a player changing the game right now, and he’s only 22. What’s next for this guy? The sky’s the limit, and the entire league better be ready.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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