This season, the NBA introduced a new monthly award: the Kia Defensive Player of the Month. Who else would win the first edition of the award than San Antonio Spurs big man Victor Wembanyama? The second-year center was named Western Conference Defensive Player of the Month for October/November.

Wembanyama leads the league with 3.6 blocks per game and averages 1.3 steals. He took 10.1 shots per game and deflected 3.3 balls per game. The advanced metrics underscore Wembanyama’s dominance on defense as well, as he has an insane individual defensive rating of 104.

What makes Wembanyama’s defensive abilities even more impressive are the plays that don’t show up in the statistics. He is a real deterrent, often causing players to turn the other way rather than try to get a shot over him. Imagine how many blocks he would have if players routinely attacked him. After finishing second in the Defensive Player of the Year voting last season, Wembanyama is on track to challenge for the award again.

Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels was named the Eastern Conference Defensive Player of the Month. He leads the league with 3 steals, 6.7 deflections and 2.8 forced turnovers per game. Daniels was a key figure in the Dejounte Murray trade with the New Orleans Pelicans.