San Antonio Spurs forward-center Victor Wembaniyama has received the Wilt Chamberlain Trophy as the 2023-24 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year.
Wembanayama received all 99 first-place votes from a media panel, becoming the first unanimous Kia NBA Rookie of the Year since Karl-Anthony Downs in the 2015-16 season.
Vembaniyama was the first player from France to win the annual Kia NBA Rookie of the Year Award since the 1952-53 season. He is the third player with the Spurs to receive the honor, joining David Robinson (1989-90) and Tim Duncan (1997-98).
During the 2023–24 regular season, Vembanyama led the NBA in points (21.4), rebounds (10.6) and blocks (3.6) per game, and was second in assists (3.9) and steals (1.2) per game. Joined Maud Ball (1985-86) for second all-NBA rookie lead in blocks per game in a season.
Since blocks were first recorded in the 1973-74 season, the two rookies who led the NBA in total blocks in a season are Wembaniyama and Ball.
Vembanyama became the first player to average at least 20.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 3.0 blocks in less than 30 minutes per game in a season. He became the first player to record at least 1,500 points, 700 rebounds, 250 assists, 250 blocks and 100 3-pointers in a season.