Victor Wembanyama is one of the front-runners to win the NBA MVP award this season. The San Antonio Spurs superstar has been on a tear, and his scintillating run has the team positioned as a legitimate title contender.
Wembanyama faces stern competition from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka Dončić, and Nikola Jokić. However, the center recently shared why he believes he deserves to win the league’s marquee individual honor.
Victor Wembanyama’s Case for MVP: Defense, Dominance, and Versatility
Speaking to the media in the aftermath of the Spurs’ 136-111 win over the Miami Heat on Monday, the French phenom responded to a question regarding the three factors that determine an MVP and why he deserves the nod.
“My first one would be that defense is 50% of the game and that it is undervalued so far in the MVP race. Because I believe I’m the most impactful player defensively in the league,” Wembanyama said.
“Second argument would be that we almost swept OKC in the season, and we dominated them three times with their real team and four times with, you know, more rotation players. And my third argument would be that offense impact is not just points.”
Wembanyama ended his evening with 26 points, 15 rebounds, and five blocks. The big man is averaging 24.3 points, 11.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 3.0 blocks per contest. According to NBA stats, no player in league history has averaged at least 24 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, and three blocks for an entire season.
MORE: Erik Spoelstra Draws Bold Comparison Between Victor Wembanyama and Bam Adebayo’s Offensive Attack
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon, Patrick Ewing, David Robinson, and Shaquille O’Neal are among the legendary bigs to have approached these thresholds, but Wembanyama’s current pace puts him in a category of his own.
At the time of writing, Gilgeous-Alexander is considered the favorite to win NBA MVP, with Dončić and Jokić also high on the list. Following the victory in Miami, Wembanyama has continued to climb in the conversation.
At the same press conference, Wembanyama exuded confidence when he claimed he deserved to win. “I have thought about it,” he said. “I think right now there is a debate. There should be, even though I think I should lead the race. I’m trying to make sure that at the end of the season, there’s no debate.”
The Spurs have clinched a postseason berth, marking their first playoff appearance in seven seasons. San Antonio last reached the postseason in the 2018-19 season, but was eliminated in the first round by the Denver Nuggets.
At the time of writing, the Spurs are on a six-game winning streak. They are second in the Western Conference with a dominant 54-18 record and are 9-1 in their last 10 games. With 10 games remaining in the regular season, it remains to be seen if the team will hit the 60-win mark.
