When the San Antonio Spurs drafted Victor Wembanyama with the No. 1 pick in 2023, it was with the expectation that the 19-year-old Frenchman would be the face of the franchise and, one day, the league. Wembanyama finished his rookie season as the unanimous Rookie of the Year and was a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year.
He became only the second rookie in NBA history to lead the league in blocks (since blocks were first officially recorded as a stat in 1973-74), joining Manute Bol, who did so in 1985-86.