By Matija Šerić
For many basketball experts, one of the surprises of the current NBA season is San Antonio holding a high 2nd place in the Western Conference (55-18). However, there’s hardly a true surprise (aside from perhaps their consistent play), considering their excellent roster, dominated by young players like Devin Vassell, Stephon Castle, and Victor Wembanyama. “Wemby” is arguably the biggest reason behind the Spurs’ brilliant results, as they approach the magical 60-win mark for the season.
On Monday, March 23, in an interview with ESPN, Wembanyama unexpectedly revealed that he believes he deserves the league’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. Most players shy away from commenting on individual awards, making the bold statement from the French star a refreshing change. His comment carries even more weight when he declared that his goal is to settle the MVP debate by the end of the season.
Wemby: “I want to be the league’s MVP”
In the interview, Wembanyama listed three reasons why he should be named MVP: 1) he is the most impactful defensive player in the league, 2) the Spurs, led by him, have beaten the defending champions Thunder in four of five matchups, and 3) his contribution to the game on offense, beyond scoring, is immense. The arguments are reasonable, as evidenced by the statistics.
The Spurs center has played 58 games, 49 of them as a starter. He averages 29.2 minutes per game, posting 24.2 points (50.5% field goal, 35.1% three-point), 11.2 rebounds, 3.1 blocks, and 3 assists per game. These are impressive numbers, especially considering Wembanyama is 224 cm tall, weighs 107 kg, and is only 22 years old.
Elite Defender
The first argument is very strong. According to most analyses, the French player is either the first or second-best defender in the league. In the NBA defensive rating, Wemby ranks second with a rating of 103.0, just behind Chet Holmgren at 102.9. He leads in rim protection and blocks (3.1 per game), with Holmgren and Jay Huff trailing at 1.9 and 1.8 blocks, respectively—a significant gap. Additionally, when looking at win percentage and defensive rating, Wembanyama is the league leader.
He himself says that defense makes up 50% of the game. His defensive play is a true spectacle. He dominates not only in the paint, where his physique deters opponents from scoring, blocks shots, and collects rebounds, but he can also disrupt perimeter shooters and playmakers. With him on the floor, the Spurs’ defense becomes 15–20% stronger.
Top moments of Wemby’s basketball
The Player Who Toppled the Champions
Before the season, few would have predicted that San Antonio would beat Oklahoma 4-1 in the league series. There’s no doubt that without Wembanyama, the outcome wouldn’t have been as favorable for the Spurs. In every victory, the French center delivered impressive performances on both ends of the court. On February 4, he recorded 22 points, 14 rebounds, and 2 blocks. Saying the Spurs dominated the Thunder in these games would be an exaggeration, but it’s worth noting that two wins came by margins of 20 and 15 points. Truly remarkable. No team has shown the ability to beat Oklahoma the way the Spurs have. This makes Wemby’s second argument very strong.
Offensive Rebounder
His offensive contribution is invaluable. While most observers focus on scorers, Wemby emphasizes offensive rebounding. Undoubtedly, he is also an excellent shooter—under the basket, mid-range, and from three, which is rare for a big man. However, his primary impact comes from smart positioning and physical presence, allowing him to chase rebounds, score, or assist teammates.
His presence forces opposing defenses to double-team him, creating opportunities for teammates to score, for example through layups executed by Fox and Castle. Admittedly, this is Wemby’s weakest argument. If voters accept it, it would show that being a prolific shooter alone isn’t enough to earn MVP honors.
In the Company of Jordan, Olajuwon, and Giannis
The sportsbook BetMGM currently ranks Wembanyama third in the MVP race. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the favorite, with Luka Dončić in second. In history, only Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Giannis Antetokounmpo have won both MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season. If Wembanyama continues on his current path, he could join this extremely rare and elite company.
Realistic Hopes for a Championship
It can be concluded that, even though Wemby doesn’t score 30+ points per night, his impact on both ends of the court surpasses the competition. He doesn’t rely on referees (for free throws) or teammates (for pick-and-roll creation). Wemby creates his own opportunities, which is his main advantage. Whether he wins the MVP award or not, the Spurs have a legitimate chance to contend for the NBA title with him leading the way.
