Victor Wembanyama builds MVP case as Spurs clinch division, end playoff drought

Oklahoma City Thunder defender Shai Gilgeous-Alexander swept nan regular-season and NBA Finals MVP awards past twelvemonth en way to his first championship.

While Gilgeous-Alexander is having different beardown play that has put him backmost successful MVP discussions for 2025-26, Victor Wembanyama believes location should beryllium a clear-cut favourite for nan award.

Wembanyama scored 26 points successful Monday’s triumph complete nan Miami Heat, helping nan Spurs clinch a section title and end a six-season playoff drought, past declaring that he would soundlessness immoderate MVP debate.

"I person thought astir it," nan 2024 NBA Rookie of nan Year said. "I deliberation correct now, location is simply a debate. There should be, moreover though I deliberation I should lead nan race. I'm trying to make judge that astatine nan extremity of nan season, there's nary debate."

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San Antonio Spurs halfway Victor Wembanyama (1) drives to nan handbasket against nan Miami Heat during nan 2nd 4th astatine Kaseya Center successful Oct. 15, 2024 successful Miami, Florida.  (Sam Navarro/Imagn Images)

Wembanyama enters Wednesday's matchup pinch nan Memphis Grizzlies averaging 24.3 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 3.0 blocked shots per game.

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While those numbers thief bolster Wembanyama’s MVP case, others tin make a lawsuit arsenic well. In summation to Gilgeous-Alexander, Los Angeles Lakers defender Luka Doncic, nan NBA’s starring scorer, is besides considered a apical candidate.

San Antonio Spurs guardant Victor Wembanyama (1) dribbles nan shot during nan 2nd 4th against nan Sacramento Kings astatine Golden 1 Center successful Sacramento, California connected March 17, 2026. (Sergio Estrada/Imagn Images)

Denver Nuggets halfway Nikola Jokić, already a three-time MVP, presently holds somewhat amended likelihood to triumph nan grant this year, pinch Wembanyama sitting third, according to information compiled by ESPN. New NBA rules require a minimum of 65 games played for a subordinate to beryllium eligible for nan MVP award.

Wembanyama besides laid retired a three-part lawsuit to support his MVP bid.

"My first 1 would beryllium that defense is 50% of nan crippled and that it is undervalued truthful acold successful nan MVP race. I judge I'm nan astir impactful subordinate defensively successful nan league," Wembanyama said. "Second statement would beryllium that we almost swept OKC successful nan season, and we dominated them 3 times pinch their existent team. ... The 3rd statement would beryllium that discourtesy effect is not conscionable points."

San Antonio Spurs guardant Victor Wembanyama, center, celebrates pinch teammates aft hitting a game-winning changeable against nan Phoenix Suns successful nan last seconds of an NBA hoops crippled successful San Antonio, Texas, connected March 19, 2026. (Eric Gay/AP Photo)

Spurs coach Mitch Johnson voiced beardown support for Wembanyama’s MVP campaign, pointing to nan effect he sees each time down nan scenes.

"I deliberation he's close," Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. "All those guys you named are deserving; a mates of them already person that award. And I'm very biased. I get to spot 1 of those guys each azygous night. I get to spot him connected nan believe court. I get to spot what he does successful nan morning. I get to spot what does correct now, aft nan game. So, I understand my sentiment and outlook and position is very different than almost everyone else."

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San Antonio enters Wednesday pinch 54 wins and will caput into nan playoffs nary little than nan No. 2 seed successful nan Western Conference.

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