Victor Wembanyama challenges Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for the MVP: "The debate is reasonable"
The star of the San Antonio Spurs once again led his team, which continues to win games and will be second in the West
Victor Wembanyama does not hide his ambition. The star of the San Antonio Spurs wants to make the definitive leap this season and win the NBA MVP award over favorite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He made it clear after his team's convincing 136-111 victory against the Miami Heat, a win that also secured the franchise's first Southwest Division title in nine years.
The Spurs are in a spectacular moment, with 22 wins in their last 24 games, and much of that success is explained by Wembanyama's impact on both ends of the court. After the game, the Frenchman was direct about his individual aspirations:
"I've thought about it. I think there's a debate right now. There should be, even though I believe I should lead the race. I'm trying to make sure there's no debate by the end of the season."
His stats support his candidacy: he averages 24.3 points, 11.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 3.0 blocks per game. Only six players in history have finished a season with similar statistics, including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon, or Shaquille O’Neal. Wembanyama himself achieved it last season, although in just 46 games.
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Nevertheless, there are clear favorites in the race for MVP. The current winner, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, is favored to repeat, while Luka Doncic, the league's leading scorer, is also ahead of the Spurs’ center in the betting. Nikola Jokic is just behind in a battle that could be influenced by the 65-game minimum rule.
Rather than avoiding the comparison, Wembanyama structured his candidacy around three main arguments:
"The first would be that defense is 50% of the game and is undervalued in the MVP race. I believe I'm the most impactful defensive player in the league. The second argument would be that we almost swept Oklahoma City this season, dominating them three times with their full team. The third argument would be that offensive impact is not just about points."
His coach, Mitch Johnson, also publicly reinforced the young talent's candidacy, making it clear that his influence goes far beyond statistics:
"I think he's close. All the players you mention deserve it; some have already won that award. And I'm very biased. I'm lucky to see one of those players every night. I watch him practice, I see him in the morning, I see him now, after the game. I understand that my perspective is different from almost everyone else.
But it affects the game in every aspect: on the court, on both ends, with the ball and without it, in what the opponent tries to do, plan, or adjust. In my opinion, probably quite subjective, he impacts as much as any player I've seen."
The Spurs hold a record of 54-18 and are on track to finish as one of the top two teams in the West, with home-court advantage secured in the early rounds of the playoffs. The collective growth has been evident, but it has a name: Wembanyama, the leader of a franchise that has found its new reference in him.
Although MVPs usually come later in one's career, the Frenchman doesn't want to wait:
"Right now it's reasonable that there's a debate. But as I've said, my goal is to ensure that by the end of the season there's no debate anymore."
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Victor Wembanyama desafía a Shai Gilgeous-Alexander por el MVP: "Es razonable el debate"
