Victor Wembanyama accepts he’s not in pole position to win the NBA MVP but has made a personal pitch outlining why he should claim the award.
The San Antonio Spurs star stated his case shortly after helping his team to a 136-111 win over the Miami Heat – a victory that clinched their first Southwest Division title in nine years.
Frenchman Wembanyama is averaging 24.3 points, 11.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 3.0 blocked shots this season but that is only good enough to be third favourite as it stands behind reigning champ Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luka Doncic.
“I have thought about it,” Wembanyama said following the Spurs’ 22nd win in their last 24 games. “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.”
Wembanyama highlights his defensive impact
While Gilgeous-Alexander and Doncic earn their acclaim by the sheer volume of points they amass, Wembanyama has a more all-round game and he believes that gives him a point of difference.
Explaining the three reasons why he should be a frontrunner, he added: “My first one would be that defense is 50% of the game and that it is undervalued so far in the MVP race. I believe I’m the most impactful player defensively in the league.
“Second argument would be that we almost swept [Gilgeous-Alexander’s] OKC in the season, and we dominated them three times with their real team.
“The third argument would be that offense impact is not just points.”
The Spurs’ record of 54-18 means they will have home court advantage for the first two rounds of the playoffs, enhancing their chances of claiming the overall crown in what could be another factor that tips the balance Wembanyama’s way.
Spurs coach Johnson backs Wembanyama
Spurs coach Mitch Johnson accepts his view is skewed but he believes the 22-year-old is in the thick of the conversation.
“I think he’s close,” Johnson said. “All those guys you named are deserving; a couple of them already have that award. And I’m very biased. I get to see one of those guys every single night. I get to see him on the practice court. I get to see what he does in the morning. I get to see what does right now, after the game. So, I understand my opinion and outlook and perspective is very different than almost everyone else.
“But he affects as much of the game in every single way – on the court, on both ends, with and without the ball, what the other team tries to do, plan for, scheme, adjust to, on both sides of the basketball, in my very ignorant opinion – as much as any other player I’ve ever seen. Take that for whatever it’s worth.”
