Wemby's MVP Talk: A Breath of Fresh Air, Or Just Early Noise?
Look, Mike Greenberg isn't wrong. When Victor Wembanyama tells the world, "I know I will be MVP one day," you can't help but feel a jolt. That was his quote back in February, after a 27-point, 10-rebound, 8-assist, 5-block stat line against the Lakers. It’s a level of self-belief you rarely hear from a 20-year-old, especially one who just finished his rookie season with a 22-60 San Antonio Spurs squad. Greeny called it the "best thing that's happened to the NBA in recent memory" on *Get Up*, and honestly, I get it. We've become so accustomed to the manufactured humility, the "taking it one game at a time" clichés, that Wemby's raw ambition feels almost revolutionary.
Thing is, it’s not just talk. Wembanyama backed it up with his play. He averaged 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and a league-leading 3.6 blocks per game in his debut season. That block number? It’s the highest since Myles Turner blocked 3.4 shots per game in 2020-21. He had a 5x5 game against the Lakers in February, the first since Jusuf Nurkic in 2019, dropping 27 points, 10 boards, 8 dimes, 5 steals, and 5 blocks. Forget "potential"; this kid is already producing at an elite level. He finished second in Rookie of the Year voting, obviously, but he also got a single fifth-place MVP vote, which is wild for a guy on a team that lost 60 games.
**The Weight of Expectation vs. Reality**
But here’s my hot take: this MVP talk, while refreshing, is also a little premature and could set him up for unfair criticism. Yes, he's incredible. Yes, he’s going to win one, probably multiple. But the leap from a 22-win team to an MVP contender is seismic. Nikola Jokic, for example, won his first MVP in 2021 when the Nuggets were the third seed in the West at 47-25. Joel Embiid's MVP season saw the Sixers go 54-28, securing the top seed in the East. Wembanyama needs a lot more team success to be in that conversation. The Spurs haven't made the playoffs since 2019, the year before they drafted him. They still need a bona fide point guard and more reliable wing scoring around him.
And that's the kicker. An MVP award isn't just about individual numbers, as stellar as Wemby's are. It's about elevating your team, making them a force. The Spurs were a bottom-five offensive and defensive team last season, despite Wembanyama's heroics. Their offensive rating was 109.8, 26th in the league. Their defensive rating was 117.8, 25th in the league. Those aren't MVP team numbers. While he was a DPOY candidate as a rookie, he can't guard all five positions at once. Gregg Popovich and Brian Wright have their work cut out for them to build a contender around him.
It’s great to hear a young star speak with such conviction. It reminds you of Michael Jordan’s relentless drive, or LeBron James’s early confidence. Wemby wants to be the best, and he isn't afraid to say it. That's good for the league, it sells tickets, and it generates buzz. But for him to actually win that MVP trophy, the Spurs need to morph from a lottery team into a legitimate playoff threat. And that’s a multi-season project, not just another summer’s worth of hype.
I predict the Spurs finish with 35-40 wins next season, and Wembanyama will be an All-NBA Third Team selection, but the MVP conversation remains a couple of years out.