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Forget Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs have another future Defensive Player of the Year winner says Tim Legler

Originally posted on NBA Analysis Network
By Bergas Agung | Last updated Oct 4, 2025 4:03 PM ET

Victor Wembanyama enters next season as the favorite to win Defensive Player of the Year, potentially maintaining that status for several years.

The San Antonio Spurs center possesses every tool necessary for the award: elite shot-blocking, primary rim protection, and versatility defending multiple positions.

Victor Wembanyama becomes an even stronger favorite if he plays more than 65 games next season, having appeared in only 49 games last season.

However, former player and current analyst Tim Legler believes San Antonio has another future Defensive Player of the Year winner on their roster.

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Tim Legler identifies Carter Bryant’s Summer League dominance as evidence of elite defensive potential

That player is Carter Bryant, the 14th overall pick from the 2025 NBA Draft.

Based on observations from the NBA Summer League, Legler believes Bryant has the potential to become the league’s best defensive player within five years.

“I want to make a prediction about Carter Bryant down the road five years from now. I think Carter Bryant is eventually going to be a Defensive Player of the Year,” Legler stated.

“He was so much more athletic than the next closest guy in Vegas [during the NBA Summer League], it was mind blowing to me.”

“What he was doing in the way a guy that’s built the way he’s built, how light he is when the ball is at his feet, and the amount of ground he covers, and explosive athletic ability off the ground,” he added.

Offensive development will determine Carter Bryant’s path to DPOY consideration

Despite his defensive prowess, Legler emphasized that Bryant must prove his offensive capabilities to earn the minutes necessary for Defensive Player of the Year consideration.

His college statistics at Arizona showed limited scoring with just 6.5 points per game, though his 37.1% three-point shooting provides some optimism.

“He’s gonna have to be good enough offensively to earn the minutes to justify being in the rotation, to win something like that. That’s the problem for Carter Bryant, can he get there with his shooting?” Legler questioned.

The analyst drew a cautionary comparison to another defensively gifted player whose limited offensive game restricted his impact and accolades.

“If he doesn’t get there, his minutes will be limited, and he ends up being a guy that won’t be in that conversation, like a Matisse Thybulle,” Legler added.

Bryant may not immediately secure a starting position with the Spurs next season.

However, if he demonstrates that his offensive capabilities can complement his elite defensive skills, his playing time should increase substantially.

This article first appeared on NBA Analysis Network and was syndicated with permission.

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