San Antonio SpursTeam·San Antonio Spurs center Victor WembanyamaPlayer·Victor Wembanyama has officially been named to the 2025-26 Kia All-NBA First Team, the league announced on Sunday. This prestigious accolade marks the first All-NBA selection of Wembanyama's burgeoning career and the first time a San Antonio Spur has earned the honor since the 2016-17 season. At just 22 years old, Wembanyama becomes the fifth player in the storied Spurs franchise history to achieve this distinction.
Wembanyama's selection is a testament to a season of remarkable individual growth and dominance. Appearing in 64 games, he posted career highs across the board, averaging 25 points and 11.5 rebounds per game. His all-around impact was further highlighted by 3.1 assists, a league-leading 3.08 blocks, and 1.03 steals in just 29.2 minutes per contest. This exceptional statistical output places Wembanyama in an elite category, as he became only the seventh player in NBA history to average at least 25 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 blocks in a single season.
The All-NBA First Team nod arrives shortly after Wembanyama was also unanimously named the 2025-26 Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year, making him the youngest player ever to win the award and the first unanimous selection since its establishment in 1982-83. He also earned a unanimous selection to the NBA All-Defensive First Team, leading the league in blocks per game for the third consecutive season, underscoring his profound defensive impact.
Wembanyama joins an esteemed group on the 2025-26 Kia All-NBA First Team, including Cade CunninghamPlayer·Cade Cunningham of the Detroit PistonsTeam·Detroit Pistons, Luka DončićPlayer·Luka Dončić of the Los Angeles LakersTeam·Los Angeles Lakers, Shai Gilgeous-AlexanderPlayer·Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City ThunderTeam·Oklahoma City Thunder, and Nikola Jokić of the Denver NuggetsTeam·Denver Nuggets.
His individual brilliance has been a cornerstone of the San Antonio SpursTeam·San Antonio Spurs' resurgence. The team concluded the regular season with an impressive 62-20 record, securing the 2nd seed in the Western Conference. This marked their first playoff berth since the 2018-19 season and their first division title since 2016-17, representing a significant 28-game improvement over their previous season's record. The Spurs also boasted the third-best defensive rating in the NBA and were the only team to finish in the top three in both offensive and defensive ratings this season, a testament to Wembanyama's two-way influence.
Spurs coach Mitch JohnsonCoach·Mitch Johnson lauded Wembanyama's drive, stating, "That young man has a rare desire to step into every moment that's in front of him. He's going to attack those moments... he has some rare, God-given ability. He puts in even more work and preparation into maximizing that." Wembanyama himself has consistently emphasized his commitment to the defensive end, remarking, "Defense is something I take pride in every night."
The Spurs' strong regular season momentum, which saw them go 30-4 in their final 34 games, has carried into the postseason. They defeated the Portland Trail BlazersTeam·Portland Trail Blazers in five games in the first round, followed by a six-game series victory over the Minnesota TimberwolvesTeam·Minnesota Timberwolves in the semifinals. San Antonio is currently engaged in the Western Conference Finals against the Oklahoma City ThunderTeam·Oklahoma City Thunder, with Wembanyama's transformative presence central to their deep playoff run and renewed championship aspirations.
Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs plays against the Clippers. April 2, 2026. (ZUMA Press Wire/IMAGO)
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