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San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama was unanimously named NBA rookie of the year Monday, becoming the third player in franchise history to win the award after Hall of Fame centers David Robinson (1990) and Tim Duncan (1998).

Wembanyama, the No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft, received all 99 first-place votes, beating out fellow finalists Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren, who finished second, and Charlotte Hornets forward Brandon Miller.

Holmgren received 98 second-place votes and one third-place vote. Miller received one second-place vote and 83 third-place votes, while Miami Heat forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. (10), Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski (four) and Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II (one) also received third-place votes.

Regarded as the most coveted teenage basketball star since LeBron James entered the league in 2003, Wembanyama lived up to the hype by averaging 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 3.6 blocks and 1.2 steals in 71 appearances, numbers that have been matched by only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Hakeem Olajuwon in any season in NBA history.

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The 20-year-old French phenom led the NBA in blocks per game and ranked first among award-eligible rookies in scoring, rebounds and player efficiency rating. Wembanyama enjoyed a strong start to his rookie season by winning two high-profile showdowns against Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant, and he closed by averaging 23.5 points and 12.0 rebounds after the all-star break. His popularity, as judged by social media engagement and jersey sales, rivaled the likes of James and Stephen Curry.

“My goal was always to help my team as best I could and get better as the year went on,” Wembanyama said in an interview with TNT. “I knew that, in order to do this, I had to be individually good on the court and dominant. [Rookie of the year] was a huge thing for me and a big thing to get. It’s always been really important, and I’m glad it’s official.”

Thanks to Wembanyama’s undeniable talent and historic production, award voters chose not to penalize him for the rebuilding Spurs’ 22-60 record, which was fifth worst in the league. By contrast, Holmgren, 22, played a central role for the Thunder, which earned the top seed in the Western Conference with a 57-25 record.

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Holmgren, the No. 2 pick in the 2022 draft, averaged 16.5 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists and was eligible for rookie of the year honors because he missed the entire 2022-23 season with a foot injury.

The 21-year-old Miller, who was picked second in the 2023 draft, averaged 17.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists for a Hornets team that went 21-61 and finished well outside the playoffs.

Wembanyama was also named as one of three finalists for defensive player of the year, joining Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert and Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo. The NBA will announce the winner of that award Tuesday.

Before he returns to San Antonio for his second season, Wembanyama is expected to be one of the faces of the French national team at the Paris Olympics this summer.

“Physically, the work is never going to be done,” Wembanyama told TNT. “We’re going to keep discovering new ways to get better and work on my body. With basketball, there’s a lot I want to work on. I’m excited. The big thing I can tell you is that I’m already working on my balance and strength.”

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