Victor Wembanyama led the NBA in blocked pictures within the 2025-26 season.
Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs has received the 2025-26 Magic Johnson Award, which honors the NBA participant who finest combines excellence on the courtroom with cooperation and beauty in coping with the media and followers, the Professional Basketball Writers Association introduced at present.
Wembanyama averaged 25 factors, 11.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and a league-leading 3.1 blocks per sport this season and was named an All-Star for the second time. Off the courtroom, Wembanyama persistently fostered an environment of mutual respect and openness with reporters who cowl the NBA.
“Victor Wembanyama thoroughly embodies the spirit of this award – as a superstar who is just as thoughtful and engaging off the court as he is dominant on the court,” stated PBWA president Howard Beck. “He is giving of himself, amiable and patient with reporters, and eager to discuss just about any subject – from the MVP race to social justice to the Northern Lights. As one of our members put it, Victor is ‘a deep thinker who understands the power of his words.’ ”
Beck added: “Even with the immense spotlight and expectations he faces daily, Victor consistently approaches his interviews with enthusiasm and a sense of humor. The day before he was drafted in 2023, Victor said his goal was to be the best in ‘all dimensions of the job,’ including ‘the best at the media, the press conference stuff.’ As he has on the court, he has more than lived up to his promise.”
Wembanyama is the primary Spur to win the award and, at age 22, the youngest honoree since Kevin Durant(additionally 22) in 2011.
Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers completed second within the balloting, for the second straight 12 months. The different finalists, based mostly on nominations from PBWA members, had been Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors, Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics and Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks. A vote of the total PBWA membership decided the winner.
The award, created in 2001, is named in honor of Earvin “Magic” Johnson, the former Los Angeles Lakers star, who was persistently partaking, considerate and gracious with the media all through his Hall of Fame profession.
The PBWA yearly honors an NBA PR workers (Brian McIntyre Award), coach (Rudy Tomjanovich Award) and star participant (Magic Johnson Award) who go above and past to work with the media and assist inform followers. Under the PBWA’s present guidelines, adopted in 2020, no workforce or particular person can win in consecutive years.
The PBWA is composed of greater than 200 writers and editors who usually cowl the NBA and WNBA for newspapers, magazines and on-line information shops.
Magic Johnson Award winners
- 2000-01 Ray Allen, Milwaukee Bucks
- 2001-02 Elton Brand, L.A. Clippers
- 2002-03 Jalen Rose, Chicago Bulls
- 2003-04 Jermaine O’Neal, Indiana Pacers
- 2004-05 Antawn Jamison, Washington Wizards
- 2005-06 Grant Hill, Orlando Magic
- 2006-07 Shane Battier, Houston Rockets
- 2007-08 Derek Fisher, Los Angeles Lakers
- 2008-09 Brandon Roy, Portland Trail Blazers
- 2009-10 Chris Bosh, Toronto Raptors
- 2010-11 Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder
- 2011-12 Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns
- 2012-13 Shane Battier, Miami Heat
- 2013-14 Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks
- 2014-15 Pau Gasol, Chicago Bulls
- 2015-16 Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
- 2016-17 Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers
- 2017-18 DeMar DeRozan, Toronto Raptors
- 2018-19 Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat
- 2019-20 Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers
- 2020-21 N/A (pandemic)
- 2021-22 N/A (pandemic)
- 2022-23 Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
- 2023-24 Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
- 2024-25 Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns
- 2025-26 Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
