Victor Wembanyama has emerged as the overwhelming favorite to capture the Most Valuable Player award for the 2026–27 NBA season, according to the league’s annual preseason general manager survey released Thursday. Seventy percent of the league’s front office executives selected the San Antonio Spurs player for the top individual honor, pointing toward a massive campaign following a season that saw him finish third in voting behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokić while leading his franchise to the NBA Finals.
How the Preseason Balloting Stacked Up Across the League
Twenty-three of the 30 team executives picked the 2.24-meter French star to claim the MVP trophy this coming season. Triple MVP Nikola Jokić finished a distant second with 10 percent of the general manager votes, while Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards garnered 7 percent. The wide margin reflects skyrocketing expectations for the 22-year-old as he looks to confirm his status of essential star of global basketball.
The GMs have spoken: it's Wemby's world 👽🏀In the NBA's 2026-27 GM Survey released yesterday, Victor Wembanyama got 77% of the vote for most likely MVP, 97% for best defensive player and 93% for the player GMs would most want to start a franchise with.The Spurs got the most…
Defensive Dominance and Positional Versatility
Beyond the MVP projection, voters expect Wembanyama to sweep multiple major individual accolades when the season tips off. Ninety-seven percent of the executives picked him to repeat as the league’s Defensive Player of the Year, leaving compatriot Rudy Gobert with just 3 percent of that ballot. General managers also tabbed the San Antonio standout as the competition’s most versatile player, the top international star, and the single toughest defensive assignment who forces opposing coaches to make the most radical tactical adjustments.
Championship Expectations in San Antonio
The survey results extend beyond individual honors to the team standings, where 15 of the 30 executives predict the Spurs will capture the title. Those respondents placed San Antonio ahead of the Oklahoma City Thunder, who pulled in 43 percent of the championship predictions in the executive poll.
Lessons From Past Preseason Executive Misses
History suggests league executives are not infallible when peering into their crystal balls ahead of opening night. Last season, 80 percent of general managers projected the Oklahoma City Thunder to win the championship, only to watch the New York Knicks claim the title for the first time since 1973. Whether the high-flying projections for Wembanyama and the Spurs will run into similar real-world hurdles remains to be seen as the regular season approaches.
Worth a look
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