The Ringer founder Bill Simmons championed Victor Wembanyama as the best he had seen this season, amid the heated MVP race featuring Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic. Wembanyama came off leading the San Antonio Spurs to a phenomenal victory over the Sacramento Kings, positioning them as one of the potential playoff teams in the Western Conference.
Bill Simmons Takes Victor Wembanyama’s Side Amid MVP Race
Wembanyama, the 7-foot-4 French center who has been making heads turn with the unique combination of height, guard-like skills, and shot-blocking, was the anchor of the Spurs on Tuesday night. He added 18 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 block in just 22 minutes to take his team to the 132-104 victory, their first win in Sacramento in more than two years.
The 22-year-old continues to lead the team in a record-breaking all-time great season, averaging 24.3 points per game and a 50.6/36.1/81.0 shooting split. He has also been dominant in rebounds and steals in approximately 30 minutes per game. Besides collective success as a Spurs player, Wembanyama also etched his name as one of the MVP award prospects.
In a recent podcast episode, Simmons advocated for him, calling him the “best” he had seen all season, both offensively and defensively, despite feeling that Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic have a better chance to win the award. He didn’t hold back in noting the unbelievable caliber he possesses to change shots or outsmart opponents.
“Wemby is the best player I’ve seen all season. And I’ve seen all the players. SGA is going to win the MVP. SGA looks like he’s veering into this Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant area.. I cannot believe how good Wimby is. How hard he plays and how much he affects both ends of the floor, but especially the defense.”
He added, “We were just counting all the shots he changes, alters, or makes the guy change his mind. And it was almost 30. He never lets up. He’s just going hard the entire time. And the impact that he has on a game, I just thought it was the most impactful thing I’ve seen.”
READ MORE: Victor Wembanyama on Spurs’ First 50-Win Season Since 2017: ‘All of Us Are Reaching New Heights’
While he received the backing of an NBA enthusiast, Wembanyama harbors aspirations loftier than what is realistically achievable at this point. He recently stated that his goal is to earn the Defensive Player of the Year and the MVP, a feat achieved by only three players in history: Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
“In my mind it’s taking great care of my body because I also want to win the MVP and defensive player of the year. I’m trying to press the gas now until the end of the season; really take care of my treatment, take care of my sleep, take care of my routine, and show up for my team.”
The 22-year-old suffered a left calf strain in November 2025 and made his return to the lineup in December, after which his performance only improved.
