ORLANDO, Florida: Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard was named the National Basketball Association's Defensive Player of the Year on Tuesday.

The 23-year-old became the youngest player to win the award, after a season that saw him become just the fifth player to lead the league in both blocks and rebounds in the same campaign.

"To be the defensive player of the year at 23 is remarkable," Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. "To be a great defensive player usually comes later in a career. And he still has so much room for improvement."