San Antonio Spurs forward-center Victor Wembanyama is making his intentions clear: he wants to win the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award this season. The French star – moments after his team secured its first Southwest Division title in nine seasons – detailed elements of his MVP candidacy Monday night, following the Spurs’ 136-111 victory over the Miami Heat, their 22nd win in their last 24 games.
“I’ve thought about it,” Wembanyama said. “I consider there’s a debate right now. There should be, but I think I should be at the top of the race. I’m trying to make sure that by the end of the season, there’s no debate.”
Wembanyama is averaging 24.3 points, 11.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 3.0 blocks per game. Remarkably, only six players have finished a season with those numbers: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar five times, Hakeem Olajuwon twice, and Shaquille O’Neal, Patrick Ewing, and David Robinson once each. Wembanyama also achieved those statistics last season, albeit in just 46 games.
Gilgeous-Alexander and Doncic Currently Favored
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning MVP with the Oklahoma City Thunder, is currently the betting favorite to win the award again, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. Luka Dončić of the Dallas Mavericks is next in line. Wembanyama currently holds the third-best odds as of Monday, ahead of Denver’s Nikola Jokić. At this point, all other players would be considered long shots, though the NBA’s 65-game rule for eligibility for major awards could develop into a factor. Jokić, for example, can miss only one more game before becoming ineligible for voting, and Wembanyama can miss no more than three.
Wembanyama, who won Rookie of the Year two seasons ago and was widely considered a frontrunner for Defensive Player of the Year last season before being sidelined by a blood clot, believes he has a strong case.
Three Factors in Wembanyama’s Favor
“The first would be that defense is 50% of the game and it’s underrated in the MVP race. I think I’m the most impactful defensive player in the league,” Wembanyama stated. “The second argument would be that we almost swept OKC on the season, and we dominated them three times with their best team. The third argument would be that offensive impact isn’t just points.”
“I think he’s close,” said Spurs coach Mitch Johnson. “All those guys mentioned deserve it; a couple of them have already won the award. And I’m very biased. I get to see one of those guys every night. I see him in practice. I see what he does in the morning. I see what he does right after the game. So I understand my opinion, my perspective, is very different than almost everyone else’s.”
Johnson continued, “But he impacts the game in every way – on the court, on both ends, with and without the ball, in what the other team is trying to do, plan, design, adjust… on both sides of basketball – in my humble opinion, as much as anyone I’ve ever seen.”
The Spurs have a record of 54-18. They will be the first or second seed in the Western Conference. They will have home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs, and potentially the second round if they advance, and almost certainly in the NBA Finals should they reach that stage. Much of that success is attributable to the 22-year-old Wembanyama, who continues to impress with his maturity and function ethic.
Wembanyama’s unique skillset and impact on both ends of the court are undeniable. His ability to alter shots, protect the rim, and score efficiently makes him a truly unique player in the modern NBA. The question now is whether voters will recognize his all-around value and place him at the top of the MVP conversation.
The Spurs will next face the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday, March 26th, at the Moda Center in Portland. Tip-off is scheduled for 10:00 PM ET (02:00 UTC Thursday). This game will be a key test for the Spurs as they continue their push for the top seed in the Western Conference.
What are your thoughts? Do you think Victor Wembanyama deserves to be in the MVP conversation? Share your opinions in the comments below!
