NBA All-Defensive First Team includes Wembanyama, Holmgren

Wembanyama and Holmgren headline the 2025-26 All-Defensive First Team

The 2025-26 NBA All-Defensive First Team has been announced, with San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama and Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren earning the league’s top defensive honor at their respective positions.

Both players headline the list at a time when each has become closely associated with elite rim protection and high-impact defensive play. The announcement matters because All-Defensive Team selections are designed to capture sustained defensive value—players who consistently influence opponents through shot deterrence, positioning, and defensive IQ.

In addition to the individual recognition, the timing fits a broader narrative around these two teams competing at the highest level of the sport. The stories frame them as fierce competitors already facing each other in the late stages of the postseason calendar.

From a practical standpoint, placing Wembanyama and Holmgren on the First Team signals that their defensive impact is being seen not just in highlight blocks, but in the day-to-day details that defenses rely on:

• Protecting the paint while still recovering to defend perimeter drives
• Changing opponents’ shot selection through presence
• Holding defensive structure together during rotations

For the Spurs and Thunder, the significance goes beyond personal awards. Defensive excellence is often the stabilizing factor in playoff series, and having two players recognized as the best at their positions reinforces what each team can bring defensively when matchups tighten.

Overall, the league’s selection confirms that Wembanyama and Holmgren are being viewed as the defensive standard-bearers of the season.