Shaquille O’Neal criticizes Victor Wembanyama’s DPOY candidacy due to the Spurs’ losing record.
SAN ANTONIO — Before San Antonio Spurs‘ Victor Wembanyama was shelved for the remainder of the season due to deep vein thrombosis, he would undoubtedly win his first NBA Defensive Player of the Year award.
He was ahead of the pack, but don’t tell that to Shaquille O’Neal, who took a verbal swipe at the Spurs center.
During his show, “The Big Pod,” he discussed Wemby and the DPOY and opined that Wemby should not get it (if he were still playing) because of the Spurs’ sub-.500 record.
“The team’s 20 games under (expletive) .500. How are you the Defensive Player of the Year and your team’s not even (expletive) winning,” he said. “No disrespect to Wembanyama.”
First, the DPOY award recognizes an individual player’s efforts, not the collective team. Also, as Shaq commented, the Spurs are not 20 games under .500.
Wemby’s defensive numbers, before his medical issue, were staggering.
He led the league with 3.8 blocks per game and added 1.1 steals, 9.2 defensive rebounds, and 3.4 deflections per game. His on-court presence altered opponents’ shot selection, and the Spurs’ defense ranked among the league’s top six.
So, as you know, this is not the first time Shaq has targeted Wemby.
Speaking on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Sept. 2024, he questioned whether the 2024-25 NBA Rookie of the Year can dominate by taking jump shots.
“Wemby is a great player, but I don’t really think you can be dominant when you shoot jumpers a lot,” O’Neal said. “I think if he was an inside player at 7’5″, the answer will be ‘yes’ but when you shoot jumpers, you’re always going to go up and down. But he’s a fine player; I wish him well.”
Ultimately, Wemby will get the award during his young career, and the Spurs will continue to improve and exit their rebuilding phase, adding more credence to why he will eventually win the DPOY.