Victor Wembanyama became the first NBA rookie to make into first-team All-Defense

San Antonio center Victor Wembanyama became the first rookie in NBA history to be named to the league's All-Defensive First Team. The league released the teams on Tuesday, and Wembanyama was on 98 of the 99 votes polled. 

Rudy Gobert, Minnesota's defensive player of the year, led the squad and was the sole unanimous nominee. Wembanyama, Bam Adebayo of Miami, Herb Jones of New Orleans, and Anthony Davis of the Los Angeles Lakers were also named to the first team.

According to AP News, “Coming into this league, obviously he had high expectations because he’s 7-3 and shooting step-back 3s. I think a lot of people paid attention more to that than what he did on the defensive end,” Adebayo said of Wembanyama. “So, for him to get first-team, first come around, it’s a great accolade for him.”

Victor Wembanyama is the FIRST rookie in NBA history to be selected to the All-Defensive First Team 👏 pic.twitter.com/jJJrXAQtJ5

— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) May 21, 2024

Second-team All-Defense selections were Chicago's Alex Caruso, Orlando's Jalen Suggs, Minnesota's Jaden McDaniels, and Boston teammates Derrick White and Jrue Holiday. 

It was Gobert's seventh All-Defense selection, all of which came as a member of the first team. Anthony Davis has now been named to the All-Defense team five times and the First Team three times. Adebayo was named All-Defense for the fifth time, his first as a member of the first team. Jones joined the team for the first time. 

Victor Wembanyama becomes the sixth rookie in NBA history

As per AP News, “I feel it’s a long time coming, obviously,” Adebayo said of his first first-team nod. “Just staying in this moment, enjoying it, blessed to be able to be one of the ones selected.”

Victor Wembanyama becomes the sixth rookie in NBA history to make the All-Defensive Team, with the other five receiving second-team honors in their debut seasons. These five were: San Antonio's Tim Duncan in 1998, the Spurs' David Robinson in 1990, Washington's Manute Bol in 1986, Houston's Hakeem Olajuwon in 1985, and Milwaukee's Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1970. 

The All-NBA squad will be unveiled on Wednesday. If Wembanyama makes the squad, he will be the first rookie to do it since Duncan 26 years ago.